The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000 gather each year, [47] nearly eight times the year-round population of the town which is 5,769 as of 2020. [48] How do you plan to celebrate Groundhog Day on February 2nd? Here are 10 fun ways for kids and adults alike to celebrate this holiday. From the naturalist to the movie buff to the gourmet cook, there's something here for everyone. Check out this article for ideas, recipes, and trivia. The surprising history of Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil's rise to fame goes back thousands of years. Pagans would celebrate February 1 or 2 with a festival of light to mark the start of If you’re looking for something a little different to break the monotony of the winter season, here are some fun and unique ways to celebrate Groundhog Day. 1. Watch Groundhog Day—and Live It Like Bill Murray! Let’s be honest: Groundhog Day (the movie) is as synonymous with the holiday as the actual groundhog. Bill Murray’s comedic 3 of 15 | . FILE - The groundhog saw his shadow, Feb. 2, 1954, as the sun peeked through an overcast sky at Washington Park Zoo in Milwaukee, Wis. The arrival of annual Groundhog Day celebrations Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, will draw thousands of people to see celebrity woodchuck Phil at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. — an event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie. The first recognized Groundhog Day celebration was February 2, 1887, when the town of Punxsutawney dubbed their groundhog Phil America's weather-forecasting animal. Groundhog Day history can be intriguing, once you study it. Groundhog Day Kids STEM Activity. This Groundhog Day, mix a little science, art, and math for a hands-on STEM adventure! Get ready to predict—will your groundhog spot its shadow or not? This fun and interactive activity is the perfect way for kids to learn, explore, and celebrate the day in a totally exciting way! The first celebration of Groundhog Day took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1886. As a result, this is still where the largest Groundhog Day celebration is held today. Punxsutawney’s groundhog is named Punxsutawney Phil. The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The annual ritual has roots in pre-Christian traditions and was brought to the U.S. by Most of us know the tradition: on February 2, our old friend the groundhog will emerge from hibernation, come out of his den, and predict whether winter will deliver more cold weather this year. If the groundhog sees his shadow, the story goes, cold weather will persist another few weeks. If not, warm weather is around the corner. If you like the folklore of holidays, you may be interested to 17 Groundhog Day Poems This collection features Groundhog Day poems celebrating tradition, humor, and seasonal charm. Short Poems & Quotes | Special Occasion Poems & Quotes | Groundhog Day Poems Updated January 4, 2025, by Catherine Pulsifer Groundhog Day brings smiles, laughter, and a bit of suspense as we wait to see what the groundhog predicts. Groundhog Day 2025The Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, will once again appear at sunrise on Feb. 2 at Gobbler's Knob in the Pennsylvania Wilds to make his annual prediction on the 139th Groundhog Day. Watch Live The Pennsylvania Tradition of the GroundhogWhat does a sleepy, furry marmot have to do with seasonal change? According to fans of Punxsutawney Phil, everything The first Groundhog Day was celebrated on Feb. 2, 1887, at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. The holiday has roots in a few different religions, but it took a similar message from each of them. Celebrate Groundhog Day with this fun introduction for kids ages 6 to 9 . Every year on February 2nd, people celebrate Groundhog Day. Tradition says that Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous groundhog, can predict when spring will arrive based on whether he sees his shadow when he comes out of his underground burrow. 12. The film ‘Groundhog Day’ popularized the celebration. Previously, few thousands of people would travel to Gobbler’s Knob to celebrate Groundhog Day. The release of the 1993 Columbia Pictures film, ‘Groundhog Day’ starring Bill Murray made the celebration of this tradition quite popular. The number of tourists that visited The Brief. Woodstock, Illinois, became the filming location for "Groundhog Day" (1993), and the town now celebrates the movie with an annual festival that attracts visitors from around the world. What is Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day Events Menu Toggle. Groundhog Day Schedule & Info; Community Events; Annual Groundhog Banquet; The Inner Circle’s Groundhog Ball; PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — This Sunday, Feb. 2, all eyes will turn to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, will Groundhog Day should be on everyone’s bucket list. Groundhog Day is held at Gobbler’s Knob, a field a little under two miles outside of downtown Punxsutawney, PA. The gates to the grounds open at 3am. No tickets are required as Groundhog Day is a free event. From 3am until approximately 7:20am, a party happens at Gobbler’s Knob. Groundhog Day, in the United States and Canada, day (February 2) on which the emergence of the groundhog from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks. In the United States the most popular event occurs in Pennsylvania and centers on a groundhog designated Punxsutawney Phil.
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