February 2nd is Groundhog Day. The first documented American reference to Groundhog Day was found in a diary entry by storekeeper James Morris of Morgantown, Pennsylvania dated February 4, 1841. February 2 is Groundhog Day, and with it, there is the history behind this folklore and the annual ceremony in Punxsutawney, PA. Washington weather ‘stretched limits,’ ‘extremes’ in The local groundhog, known as “Punxsutawney Phil,” has a lair in a little clearing at the top of a wooded hill. Other towns around the nation host Groundhog Day events with a local mammal celebrity. But PA Phil gets the most national press. Another tradition far and near includes screening of the film “Groundhog Day” (1993, PG). Bill Marmots are essentially smaller groundhogs with less colorful coats, and Washington State is home to three different species of these podgy pals. The Olympic marmot is indigenous to its namesake peninsula and is only found in the Evergreen State, while the hoary marmot calls the higher confines of Washington's Alpine forests home. 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. In Washington, D.C., the Dupont Circle Groundhog Day event features Potomac Phil, another taxidermic specimen. From his first appearance in 2012 to 2018, Phil's spring predictions invariably agreed with those of the more lively Punxsutawney Phil, who made his predictions half an hour earlier. Seattle’s average temperature from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1 was 53.8 degrees, which is the warmest seven-day stretch between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1 on record since 1894, the National Weather Service said. Find your closest Groundhog Day prognosticator on an interactive map of all groundhogs across USA and Canada. Washington, District of Columbia. February 2, 1886 - The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper proclaims this date as Pennsylvania’s first official Groundhog Day celebration. 1986 - Phil travels to Washington, DC to meet with President Ronald Reagan . 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 Here's what the weather forecast shows for Punxsutawney Phil's prediction for Groundhog Day on Sunday morning. including Phil’s hometown state, Heavy snow is possible in the Washington Groundhog Day Schedule & Info; Granite State Groundhog Gathering. Barbara Pressly National Capital Groundhog Club. Karen Young Washington DC Groundhog Day, Ice Fests South Carolina Oysters Tennessee Light Festivals. Texas Wine and the Lunar New Year Virginia Chocolate, Winter Renaissance Washington, DC No festivals this weekend. West Virginia No festivals this weekend. Wisconsin Beer and Winter Festivals. **** SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM ME: Potomac Phil is a taxidermied groundhog who makes his weather proclamation in front of D.C.’s Dupont Circle fountain. He is “Washington’s most famous marmot” — a “humble, unflinching prognosticator,” who delights in corn cobs. While other groundhog prognosticators are fluent in Groundhogese, Phil prefers “non-verbal The first documented American reference to Groundhog Day was found in a diary entry by storekeeper James Morris of Morgantown, Pennsylvania dated February 4, 1841. A Washington State Patrol See a list of all 82 prognosticators, whether genuine groundhogs or otherwise. Despite the name, GROUNDHOG-DAY.com is all-welcoming. Groundhog Day Celebrations occuring in 2025 Celebrations by State/Province: All | Alabama 1117 N. Washington Avenue, Batavia, Beau’s previous home at Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary in Gwinnett County closed in 2017, but he’s been thriving in his new digs ever since. 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 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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