Happy National Groundhog Day! On February 2nd each year, today asks one question: Will he see his shadow? Ok, well maybe it asks another question. Will there be six more weeks of winter?
Click on the play button to hear the amazing story of why we celebrate National Groundhog Day and National Tater Tot Day. Told by the founder of National Day Calendar®, Marlo Anderson.
National Groundhog Day is observed on February 2nd, each year in the United States and Canada. For a nice welcomed break during the winter, on this day the famous furry prognosticator awakens from his long nap and goes outside to see if he can see his shadow.
It is believed by many that if the groundhog sees his shadow that there will then be six more weeks of winter. If this is so, he then retrieves back into his den and goes back to sleep. If he is not able to see his shadow, the groundhog remains outside to play and people celebrate believing that spring is just around the corner.
The tradition of predicting the length of the remaining winter is intertwined with the Christian holiday, Candlemas. Clergy would bless candles symbolizing the ‘light of the world’ to give to their congregations.
Another tradition associated with this day is eating crepes. Germans practiced the art of predicting the winter with a hedgehog until their arrival in the United States when they settled in the hills of Pennsylvania, and the groundhog became the official predictor.
The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place back on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The event was the brainchild of local American newspaper editor of The Punxsutawney Spirit Clymer Freas, who sold a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters—known collectively as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club—on the idea.
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has been chosen as the site for the annual Groundhog day event. Every year, thousands of people come to Gobbler's Knob in the town of Punxsutawney on National Groundhog Day for this day of celebration.
Although already a well known day, Groundhog Day received widespread attention as a result of the 1993 American comedy drama/fantasy film 'Groundhog Day', which was set in Punxsutawney and portrayed Roger Rininger as the groundhog.
Check if the groundhog has seen its shadow. You can also watch the movie 'Groundhog Day'. Read the Farmer’s Almanac to find out the likelihood of an early spring. Feel free to share your predictions on whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow using #NationalGroundhogDay to post on social media.
An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry, by American storekeeper James L. Morris, dated February 4th, 1841, of Morgantown, in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, according to the book on the subject by American author Don Yoder.
This morning the groundhog allegedly did not see his shadow. According to members of his “inner circle,” this means that there will be an early spring.
Regardless, there are still six more weeks of winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnhzGUcENWo
