Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is the self-proclaimed "Groundhog Capital of the World". [84] Groundhog Days Around the World; Every year on February 2nd, people eagerly await the emergence of a groundhog from its burrow to predict the arrival of spring. However, this unique holiday is not limited to just these two countries. Groundhog Day has its variations and interpretations in different cultures around the world. The Christian celebration of Candlemas or the Candelora (day of lights), which has origins in the 4th Century, is celebrated on 2 February in Christian communities around the world. Groundhog Day By Numbers. 1841 – A storekeeper named James Morris wrote and marked the date February 2 as Candlemas Day. 40,000 – The number of people who attend the Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 1886 – The year the first Groundhog Day was held in Punxsutawney. Read about Groundhog Day around the world in 2025. February 2nd each year brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year—and the only one led by a rodent. Groundhog Day is not celebrated in Asia as it is traditionally an American and Canadian holiday. However, some countries in Asia do have similar celebrations that revolve around predicting the weather and the arrival of spring. Japan. In Japan, the Setsubun festival is celebrated on February 3rd, which is around the same time as Groundhog Day. Children used to drag and burn several snowman-like figures throughout the day, and around the end of the 19th century, this behavior was adopted as the holiday's main ceremony, and a giant pyre See how the groundhog became a symbol for predicting seasonal changes in America, rooted in German folklore with a badger — which in turn lead to Groundhog Day. 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. It was proclaimed by the “Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” in 1887, the same year they declared Punxsutawney to be the weather capital of the world. Every February 2, the “faithful followers of Phil” can await his arrival starting at 6 a.m., thanks to a livestream provided by Visit Pennsylvania. Groundhog handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter during 128th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2014, in Punxsutawney Groundhog Day is centered around an old Dutch superstition wherein a groundhog's emergence (or non-emergence) from its burrow is said to predict the weather for the following six weeks. Groundhog Day Celebrations Around the World. While Groundhog Day is primarily celebrated in North America, variations of the tradition can be found in different parts of the world. In Germany, the original Candlemas tradition is still observed, though without the involvement of groundhogs. Forecaster Type: Groundhog Location: Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, United States Description: Arguably the world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil has been providing a Groundhog Day prediction every February 2nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, since 1887. In other words, the Groundhog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor. Famous prognosticators and predictions. Towns throughout North America are known to have winter-predicting groundhogs. The most famous is Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (immortalized in the movie Groundhog Day). Many of the local businesses offer Groundhog Day sales and specials. The town expects to hold a prediction ceremony this year, however it is likely that it will be different than previous years to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tags: groundhog day, groundhogday, groundhogs around the world, jimmy the groundhog, sun prairie, wisconsin More than 12,000 faithful Phil followers from around the world flock to the town in Jefferson County to see the famous groundhog make his prediction. Groundhog Day is a full-fledged community Sure, checking for the shadow of a groundhog to see what the weather will be like sounds weird – until you find out that some people use a frog climbing a ladder in a jar instead. BootsnAll writer Jessica Spiegel explores some of the Groundhog Day-like weather forecasting customs around the world. Groundhogs Around The World: Gertie the Groundhog. by Countdowntogroundhogday on January 15th, 2023. Since 1993, a groundhog named Gertie has been providing a Groundhog Day prediction at the Wildlife Prairie Park in central Illinois. The belief that groundhogs or other animals like them can bring good luck is more of a superstition and a product of folklore than an established fact. Groundhogs are typically associated with weather prediction, particularly on Groundhog Day, but in some traditions and regions, their emergence from hibernation can symbolize renewal, rebirth, or new beginnings
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.