Fred la marmotte

Fred la marmotte (French: Fred the Marmot, lit. 'Fred the Groundhog') is a groundhog located in Val-d'Espoir near Percé, Quebec, whose behaviour is used to predict weather on Groundhog Day.[1] Fred is the official groundhog of Quebec for Groundhog Day predictions.[2] The name "Fred la marmotte" is passed to a succession of groundhogs, that are replaced as they retire or die.[3]

Usage of Fred

According to the tradition of Groundhog Day, if the enlisted groundhog sees its shadow, then spring will be delayed; if it does not see its shadow, then spring will be early.[4]

Fred was the only groundhog located on a World Heritage Site to be used for Groundhog Day weather prediction.[5]

Succession of Freds

The original Fred, "Gros Fred" ("Big Fred"; also called "Fred Sénior"[2]), was engaged from 2010 to 2017 and again in 2019; his son "Petit Fred" ("Little Fred") stood in for the 2018 event.[6] The succeeding Fred, son of "Fred Sénior" ("Fred Senior", the original Fred) was found dead on February 2, 2023, coincidentally on Groundhog Day.[7][2] The next year, a new Fred predicted an early spring.[3]

Past predictions
2010 "Late spring"[8]
2011 "Late spring"[9]
2012 "Late spring"[10]
2013 "Long winter"[11]
2014 "Early spring"[11]
2015 "Long winter"[11]
2016 "Late spring"[12]
2017 "Early spring"[13]
2018 "Early spring"[14]
2019 "Late spring"[4]
2020 "Early spring"[15]
2021 "Early spring"[16]
2022 "Late spring"[17]
2023 "Long winter"[11]
2024 "Early spring"[18]

References
  1. "Gaspésie: la marmotte Fred prédit un printemps tardif". Le Journal de Québec (in French). February 2, 2019.
  2. Brigitte Dubé (February 2, 2023). "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, meurt avant d'avoir pu prédire l'arrivée du printemps" [Fred, the Gaspesian marmot, died before being able to make a prediction]. ICI Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (in French). ICI Radio-Canada.
  3. "An early spring? Quebec's new Fred la marmotte says 'yes'". montreal.ctvnews.ca. BellMedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  4. "Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts a late spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2019.
  5. "Fred, marmotte de l'Unesco". Chaleurs Nouvelles (in French). January 11, 2019.
  6. "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, prédit un printemps tardif". Le Soleil (in French). February 2, 2019.
  7. Wilton, Katherine (February 2, 2023). "Quebec's beloved Fred la Marmotte dies on Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  8. "L'hiver risque d'être long, foi de Fred la marmotte". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2010.
  9. "La marmotte du Québec prévoit un hiver plus long". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2011.
  10. "Quebec's forecasting groundhog expects more winter". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2012.
  11. "Fred la marmotte". Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  12. "La marmotte gaspésienne Fred prédit un printemps hâtif". Journal du Québec (in French). February 2, 2016.
  13. "Live update from Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts an early spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2017.
  14. "Spring is on the way according to Quebec's Fred la marmotte". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2018.
  15. "Q&A: Fred la Marmotte on love, rivalry and the burden of Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2020.
  16. "Q&A: Canada's weather-predicting groundhogs call for early spring". CTV News. February 2, 2021.
  17. "Q&A: Montreal weather, Groundhog Day: Fred la marmotte predicts 6 more weeks of winter". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2022.
  18. "An early spring? Quebec's new Fred la marmotte says 'yes'". montreal.ctvnews.ca. BellMedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

See also
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