10 reasons to throw a Groundhog Day party

There are holidays that demand a lot of you: chop down a tree, roast a 20-pound bird, drop all your cash on presents.

Groundhog Day is not one of those holidays. As long as you make some sort of nod in the general direction of the rodent of honor (an old brown sweater will more than suffice), you're doing your part.

Intrigued? Consider our top 10 reasons to throw a Groundhog Day party (psst, it falls on Wednesday, just in case you've forgotten):

10. There's no easier theme party: Just show the 1993 Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day" (on mute if you want to actually talk to your guests), and you're there.

9. The ground rules are simple: You're celebrating that magic moment when an oversize ground squirrel decides whether or not you'll be forced to endure six more weeks of winter. (If he doesn't see his shadow, you're off the hook.) That's all you need to know.

8. You can make your guests wear brown.

7. You don't have to make your guests wear brown. If you like them, and they like dressing up, you can even ask them to dress up as either "winter" (fun for pessimists) or "spring" (fun for exhibitionists).

6. Party games: Chris Kejriwal, whose website PurpleTrail.com has a great section on Groundhog Day party ideas, suggests having little kids make groundhog masks out of paper plates. Or there's always Toss the (Stuffed!) Groundhog.

5. Party supplies: You can make half the party room "winter" with white streamers and paper snowflakes, the other half "spring" with green streamers, flowers and hula hoops or outdoor toys, Kejriwal says.

4. Cocktails: Options include the West Virginia Groundhog (barmeister.com), a green apple martini and, for die-hard fans of the movie, sweet vermouth on the rocks with a twist.

3. Chocolate: Cupcakes with candy-bar groundhogs are mandatory in some circles. Check out the Disney version (familyfun.go.com) of the Groundhog Day cupcake.

2. Self-respect: When Atlanta — yes, Atlanta, Ga. — is paralyzed by snow, it's time to take a stand. Even a totally pointless one.

1. Spring: No, it's not here yet. But we're making progress, aren't we?

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I'LL DRINK TO THAT

When we saw the formula for a West Virginia Groundhog on BarMeister.com — which is a shot, not a cocktail — we see why the drink could justify a celebration all on its own: Combine 1 ounce each of vodka, gin, rum, Southern Comfort, sloe gin, amaretto, Yukon Jack Canadian liqueur and triple sec with 2 splashes each orange and cranberry juice. Fill a tumbler with ice; shake. Serve as shots (it'll make at least seven, and we recommend 10). You may even forget it's still winter.

Adapted from BarMeister.com