Groundhog handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, who did not see his shadow, during the 134th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2020, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen Every Feb. 2, the world's most famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil rises from its burrow in Pennsylvania for Groundhog Day to give the prediction on what type of weather the U.S. could expect to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club takes care of Phil year-round, and on each Feb. 2, members of the club's Inner Circle rouse Phil at sunrise (this year he emerged at 7:25 a.m. EST) to see if he 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 Groundhog Day has both Pagan and Christian roots all the way back to the 18 th and 19 th centuries, and even medieval times. In Europe, early Christians held a holiday to bless the candles for the 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 known record of Groundhog Day was in a local paper in 1886 in Punxsutawney. For most years since then, Phil and previous incarnations of him have actively participated in this February 2 More of Phil’s past predictions are also available from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. For an overview of some fun facts about Groundhog Day and the accuracy of the furry forecaster, check out our infographic. To see the latest climate outlooks, visit NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Groundhog Day Statistics. How Many Times Has the Groundhog Seen His Shadow from 1887 to 2015. Print Groundhog at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, PA. However, there’s a lot more to Groundhog Day than the simple facts and folklore everyone knows. For instance, did you know any of the following things about this fun and memorable occasion. The 2001 members of the Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle. Reprinted from Around Punxsutawney by Sr. Anne Frances Pulling (pg.4, Arcadia Publishing, 2001). 1. PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. -- Here's a look at Groundhog Day, an American tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive. Facts. The groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2. If the Fun and Quirky Facts. Groundhog Day has its share of quirky and lesser-known facts. Here are some that might surprise you. Punxsutawney Phil is said to drink a special "elixir of life" every summer, which grants him seven more years of life. The Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney is conducted in Pennsylvania Dutch, a dialect of German. Groundhog Day has both Pagan and Christian roots all the way back to the 18 th and 19 th centuries, and even medieval times. In Europe, early Christians held a holiday to bless the candles for the Phil and the town of Punxsutawney were portrayed in the 1993 film “Groundhog Day.” (It was really filmed in Woodstock, Ill.) Phil appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1995. (He did not get a 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. Originally, Groundhog Day was a Celtic festival marking the year’s first cross-quarter day, or a midpoint between seasons. Read more about the ancient Celtic calendar here. Celebrated at the beginning of February, the day was called Imbolc —a term from Old Irish that is most often translated as “in the belly”—a reference to the soon Entertainment; Groundhog Day 2025 facts: 7 things you need to know before the prediction. Published: Jan. 28, 2025, 7:31 a.m. In the American tradition of Groundhog Day, the nation’s groundhog prognosticators take a stance on the season ahead. If the groundhog sees his shadow, he predicts six more weeks of winter. "Groundhog Day" the movie put Punxsutawney Phil on the map. Getty Images. After the release of the 1993 film starring Bill Murray, attendance to the big event in Punxsutawney exploded, drawing Groundhog Day Facts and Stats. The tradition of Groundhog Day has its roots in an ancient Christian holiday called Candlemas, which was celebrated on February 2nd and involved the blessing of candles. February 2nd was selected for Groundhog Day because it is a ‘cross-quarter day.’ This means it falls directly in the middle of the winter
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