Groundhog Day is a popular tradition that takes place in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. Every year, Groundhog Day is on February 2. Groundhog Day came from the Pennsylvania Dutch. The colonists believed that if a groundhog came out of its burrow and saw its shadow due to clear weather, it would retreat back into 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 He was declared the official State Groundhog by the Ohio General Assembly in 1979. Other Groundhog Day celebrations across Canada are in Manitoba, Winnipeg, Alberta, and Vancouver Island. Do other states have animals predicting the weather? Phil isn't the only weather-predicting groundhog. Shout out to General Beauregard Lee in Georgia, Buckeye Chuck in Ohio, and Staten Island Groundhog day originally came from an old tradition called Candlemas Day that started in the United States in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. we all look to no other than a groundhog to 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). 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. 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. There are 82 prognosticators throughout North America: 68 in the USA, and 14 in Canada. Use the map to find your nearest Groundhog Day prognosticator (unless you’re from Saskatchewan — sorry bud). 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 The Associated Press reported that there have been weather-predicting groundhogs in at least 28 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and less formal celebrations far and wide. Take a look at some of the other states’ animal predictions on Groundhog Day below. “Groundhog Day has been celebrated in the United States since at least February 2, 1886,” the website reads. “Starting in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with its now-famous groundhog 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) Buckeye Chuck was declared the state's official Groundhog Day representative in 1979. This furry rodent lives in Marion, Ohio, and clearly enjoys warm weather. He mainly predicts an early spring Then for two straight years, efforts to find a replacement hit a snag because of strict state regulations on the use of groundhogs that are imported from other states, Milltown Mel’s handlers said. Groundhog Day is also celebrated in other countries, The film was added to the United States National Film Registry in 2006 for being "culturally, historically Over the years, several other locations have begun using their own groundhog, including General Beauregard Lee of Atlanta, Dunkirk Dave of Dunkirk, New York, and Jimmy of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. 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 The Associated Press reported that there have been weather-predicting groundhogs in at least 28 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and less formal celebrations far and wide. Take a look at some of the other states’ animal predictions on Groundhog Day below.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.