The Witches Digest

Four people have been killed and about 70 others injured after a fire set as part of a traditional South Korean festival spread out of control.

Technorati Tags: korean festival, lunar festival, lunar party, pagan news, south korea

Don’t mothball the overcoats yet: groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, America’s favorite, furriest weather forecaster, announced Monday that winter will last another six weeks.

Groundhog.org, official website of the bizarre tradition in a small Pennsylvania town that gets international attention, reported: “Phil Says ‘Six More Weeks of Winter!’”

The forecast is based on whether the marmot, after being woken from hibernation each February 2, can see his shadow. If he does, spring is another six weeks away. If not, winter is over.

According to the site, Phil announced to a select group of handlers who wear top hats and are known as the Inner Circle: “A bright sky above me showed my shadow beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be.”

Meanwhile, New York’s NY1 television reported that a rival groundhog did not see its shadow following unsuccessful attempts by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to lure the creature out of its shelter at a city zoo.

In Punxsutawney, the Inner Circle scornfully dismissed Bloomberg’s photo opportunity.

“Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors,” groundhog.org said.

The tradition has its roots in an old wives’ tale brought by German immigrant farmers.

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s, according to the website. The current spectacle, which has become a tourist attraction and was the subject of a Hollywood comedy with Bill Murray in 1983, first took place on February 2, 1887.

Technorati Tags: groundhog day, groundhog day meaning, groundhog shadow, meaning of groundhog day, punxsutawney groundhog

Workers at Derby’s new Royal Hospital have reported seeing a black-clad figure in a cloak stalking wards and corridors.

The £334m hospital is built on the site of the old Derby City Hospital - the same site where a Roman road used to run.

A hospital spokesman has confirmed to Sky News that a number of hospital workers had been “spooked” by a sighting.

And she said a chaplain would be meeting staff next week to help allay their concerns.

Word of a planned exorcism spread after an email to staff was leaked to the media.

Senior manager Debbie Butler wrote: “I’m not sure how many of you are aware that some members of staff have reported seeing a ghost.

“I’m taking it seriously as the last thing I want is staff feeling uneasy at work.

“I’ve spoken to the Trust’s chaplain and she is going to arrange for someone from the cathedral to exorcise the department.”

But a hospital spokesman said: “There is absolutely no truth in what has been reported in the media today that an exorcism has been arranged.

“We will be talking to staff in the department to listen to their concerns.

“We respect our staff and always listen to their views to help put minds at ease.”

Experts said the surgical spirit could be the ghost of a Roman soldier killed on the spot where the hospital was first built in the 1920s.

Developers apparently ignored local protests about the construction and covered over part of a Roman route.