Hello, flashionistas, and welcome to Microcosms 108.
Today (02-FEB) is Candlemas, the Christian festival of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple, where Simeon recognised the holy infant as the Christ Child.
There was once weather lore that clear weather on Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter. This was extended in the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees a shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; if he doesn’t, because of cloudiness, spring season will arrive early.
The earliest mention of Groundhog Day is an entry in the diary of James L. Morris of Morgantown, Pennsylvania on 02-FEB-1840.
In the USA and Canada, the tradition of celebrating Groundhog Day, was made even more popular by the film “Groundhog Day” (1993).
Geoff
(If YOU have an idea for a future contest and would like to be guest host, please contact us.)
Our contest this week begins with THREE things: character, location and genre.
We spun, and our three elements are – character: Someone called Phil, Location: Charity Auction, and genre: Comedy.
Write a story using those OR feel free to click on the “Spin!” button, and the slot machine will come up with a new set – character, location and genre. You can keep clicking until you have a set of elements that inspires you.
*** HEY! Remember to include which THREE elements you’re using AND a title for your entry – not included in the word count.
*** NO FAN-FICTION, PLEASE, and NO USE of COPYRIGHT CHARACTERS ***
- Devout Man
- Groundhog
- Diarist
- Weather Forecaster
- Someone called Phil
- Ice Sculptor
- Temple
- Pennsylvania
- TV Studio
- Bed and Breakfast
- Dinner-Dance
- Charity Auction
- Comedy
- Horror
- Drama
- Thriller
- Crime
- Sci-Fi
Last week’s Judge’s Pick, Steph Ellis, has kindly agreed to act as judge this time round.
REMEMBER: all submissions should be a maximum of 300 words in length (excluding the title).
Unless you get stuck in a time loop, you have just 24 hours until midnight, today (Friday) New York time (EST) to write and submit your masterpiece.
*** If you are new to Microcosms, remember to check out the full submission guidelines. ***
All being well, results will be posted next Monday.
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