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. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, the prediction is that there will be an early spring. How does Groundhog Day actually work? Published: Feb. 01, 2022, 3:19 p.m. 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 In modern times, the year’s four cross-quarter days are Groundhog Day (February 2), May Day (May 1), Lammas (August 1) and – the most sinister cross-quarter day because it comes at a dark time February 2, 1886 - The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper proclaims this date as Pennsylvania's first official Groundhog Day celebration. 1986 - Phil travels to Washington, Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, is coming up, and soon Punxsutawney Phil will tell us what to expect from the weeks to come. The holiday dates back hundreds of years, and has grown to be a widely 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. The beginning of February, which falls roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox , has long been a significant time of the year in many *Note that some groundhogs did not make predictions every year in the past 20 years. Special Mention: Punxsatawney Phil. Although he is not the most accurate seasonal prognosticator, we would be remiss not to honor the longest-running weather-forecasting groundhog in the United States, 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 Groundhog Day 2025: Will Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck see their shadows? How does a groundhog forecast the weather? According to lore, the Old Farmer's Almanac says a groundhog will emerge The "Punxsutawney Groundhog Club" was founded in 1886 by a group of groundhog hunters, one of whom was the editor of the town's newspaper and quickly published a proclamation about its local 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 has its roots in ancient midwinter ceremonies. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? It dates back to ancient traditions — first pagan, then Christian — marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, says Troy Harman, a history professor at Penn State University who also works as a ranger at Gettysburg National News; When is Groundhog Day 2025? Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? What does that mean? Published: Jan. 30, 2025, 12:25 p.m. Groundhog Day comes every year on February 2. If the groundhog sees it's shadow, that's supposed to indicate 6 more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, tradition predicts an early spring. The day is largely based in weather trends. 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) How does groundhog day work? Tradition claims that on February 2nd the groundhog will poke its head out of its burrow. If it is frightened by its shadow, the groundhog will return to the burrow for 6 more weeks of winter. Kids can use the printable to make a peeking groundhog and work on their scissors skills. But, with a color-in template, they can get as colorful and creative as they like! Once they’re done, they’ll have a charming decoration just in time for Groundhog Day! Groundhog Day dot to dots transform a simple task into a cute, groundhog-filled Why does Groundhog Day exist? Link Copied! In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, every February 2 people gather at Gobbler's Knob to see if Phil will see his shadow. CNN writer explains how Microsoft
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