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 In 1886, Groundhog Day was acknowledged for the first time in Punxsutawney by a local newspaper, Weathers Wags, according to the club. In 1887, the first official pilgrimage to see Phil on Gobbler Should be remaining on Candlemas Day. On Candlemas Day, The good goose begins to lay. When the wind’s in the east on Candlemas Day, There it will stick till the 2nd of May. On Candlemas Day, if the thorns hang a drop, You are sure of a good pea crop. More About Groundhogs! What exactly IS a groundhog? Also known as a woodchuck or whistlepig The History of Groundhog Day. The Christian religious holiday of Candlemas Day has become most commonly associated with the current celebration, but it’s roots are older than that. The celebration started in Christianity as the day, (February 2nd), when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. The first official Groundhog Day took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The event took up permanent residence at Gobbler’s Knob the following year. 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. 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 An unusual, yet beloved holiday February 2nd is Groundhog Day, the day when a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil predicts whether or not we will have six more weeks of winter. If he sees his shadow, more cold is on the way; if not, warmer weather is coming. While this holiday may seem like a silly tradition, it has a surprisingly deep history. Ancient Traditions When is Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day always falls on Feb. 2. This year, that's a Sunday. What does it mean if the groundhog sees his shadow? Legend has it that if the groundhog sees his shadow, we While Groundhog Day is primarily celebrated in North America, variations of the tradition can be found in other parts of the world, with different animals used for weather predictions. Conclusion. Groundhog Day is a beloved tradition that continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of people across North America and beyond. Groundhog Day is a 1993 fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis from a screenplay by him and Danny Rubin, and starring Bill Murray.Known for massively popularizing the time loop trope (to the extent that it's referred to on this site as the "Groundhog Day" Loop), cementing its namesake day into the modern lexicon as a stand-in for an unpleasant, repetitive situation, and serving as a As a result of this movie, in popular culture the phrase "Groundhog Day" has come to represent going through a phenomenon over and over until one spiritually transcends it. Similar customs. Aside from the Candlemas origins of Groundhog Day, some other days are considered predictors of the weather to come. Could this mean that Punxsutawney Phil will not see his shadow on Sunday? We will find out. For its part, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls the festivities, "A day to take everything a little less seriously, and break up the winter monotony." FOX Weather will have full coverage of the Groundhog Day ceremony starting Sunday at 6 a.m. EST. If it’s cloudy and he doesn’t see his shadow, it’s said to mean an early spring. Groundhog Day is the 1st cross-quarter day of the year. Image via weather.gov. PETA wants to cancel Groundhog Day and replace Pennsylvania's treasured Punxsutawney Phil tradition with a weather-reveal cake instead. Blue would mean six more weeks of winter and pink would Groundhog Day definition: 1. in the US, 2 February, which, according to an old story, is the day the groundhog wakes up after. Learn more. Groundhog Day is observed in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 2 every year and falls on a Sunday in 2025. Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day is more than just a classic movie starring The legend goes that if it is a clear sunny day, the groundhog will see its own shadow. This means it will return to its burrow and winter will continue for another six weeks.
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