The observance of Groundhog Day in the United States first occurred in German communities in Pennsylvania, according to known records. The earliest mention of Groundhog Day is an entry on February 2, 1840, in the diary of James L. Morris of Morgantown, in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, according to the book on the subject by Don Yoder. This was a What is Groundhog Day? People flock to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2 every year to be a part of the celebrations revolving around Punxsutawney Phil's winter forecast. 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. Crowds as large as 30,000 have turned out to Punxsutawney for multi-day Groundhog Day festivities, which the state calls a significant tourism boost for the town of fewer than 6,000 people. 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. Groundhog Day has been celebrated in the United States since at least February 2, 1886. Starting in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with its now-famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, the tradition spread throughout America. 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 The Birth of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney. The first recorded Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2nd, 1886, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The event was organized by local newspaper editor Clymer Freas and a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Groundhog Day is one of the most intriguing traditions in North America. Every February 2, Americans and Canadians follow a superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and a “second winter” will happen during six more weeks. 1993 - Columbia Pictures releases the movie, "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray. In the years following the release of the movie, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler's Knob 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). Groundhog Day 2025: Will Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck see their shadows? What to know If you trust any animal to give you an extended weather forecast, then you want to pay attention to what The Library of Congress also notes that the belief in groundhogs predicting an early spring were brought to America by those early settlers. "Since the belief and practice almost certainly came About GROUNDHOG-DAY.com. GROUNDHOG-DAY.com is the leading data source for North America’s prognosticating groundhogs and their yearly predictions. GROUNDHOG-DAY.com provides past predictions for individual groundhogs, as well as aggregate yearly data comparing the number of ‘early spring’s to ‘longer winter’s. The town of Punxsutawney, PA is now the center of all Groundhog Day activity. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania comes alive on February 2nd when the whole town and a few thousand others gather to see Phil the Groundhog predict the weather. According to legend, if the The groundhog is known as Punxsutawney Phil, because the town where the Groundhog Day tradition originated is called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. A big celebration is still held in the town to this Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger) Here's what the weather forecast shows for Punxsutawney Phil's prediction for Groundhog Day on Sunday morning. 800-290-4726 more ways to reach us. Sign in. Mail. 24/7 Help. For premium support Groundhog handler AJ Derume holds Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow, predicting late spring during the 136th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2022, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. See a list of all 67 American prognosticators, whether genuine groundhogs or otherwise. Despite the name, GROUNDHOG-DAY.com is all-welcoming.
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