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 The Groundhog Day tradition dates back to Germany where a badger was used to determine the coming of spring. DamianKuzdak/Getty Images Places like Missouri, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin have 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 *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. 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 Groundhog Day, celebrated every year on February 2, is an unusual holiday that stretches back hundreds of years back to European traditions and even ancient times. How is Groundhog Day Celebrated? Groundhog Day is famously connected to weather prediction, with the most prominent tradition involving a groundhog predicting the conclusion of Groundhog Day falls between the December solstice and the March equinox. In modern times, the year’s four cross-quarter days are Groundhog Day (February 2), May Day (May 1), Lammas (August 1 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 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 The Birth of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney. The first recorded Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2nd, 1886, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The event was organized by local newspaper editor Clymer Freas and a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Groundhog Day originated from an ancient European tradition called Candlemas Day, where clergy would bless candles and distribute them to ward off the darkness of winter. The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2, each year. In weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. Every February 2, a crowd of thousands gathers at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to await a special forecast from a groundhog named Phil. According to legend, if the 20-pound groundhog emerges and sees his shadow, the United States can expect six more weeks of winter weather. Chimney Rock has announced the town will continue its annual Groundhog Day celebration at the Tyron Equestrian Center despite setbacks from Hurricane Helene. we are determined to come together Crowds as large as 30,000 have turned out to Punxsutawney for multi-day Groundhog Day festivities, which the state calls a significant tourism boost for the town of fewer than 6,000 people. About GROUNDHOG-DAY.com. GROUNDHOG-DAY.com is the leading data source for North America’s prognosticating groundhogs and their yearly predictions. GROUNDHOG-DAY.com provides past predictions for individual groundhogs, as well as aggregate yearly data comparing the number of ‘early spring’s to ‘longer winter’s. 5 p.m., Showing of “Groundhog Day.” Come and see the classic 1993 film free of charge! Punx’y Community Center, 220 N. Jefferson. St. punxsutawneycommunitycenter.com 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., First Baptist Church will open its Warming Station, Rest-to Groundhog Day visitors. 209 E. Union St., Punx’y. 7 p.m., Showing of “Groundhog Day.” Come MILLTOWN, N.J. – Another Groundhog Day approaches in Milltown. But it’s Groundhog Day in another sense, in that the town will wake up on February 2nd and again won’t be celebrating its Groundhog's Day is fast approachingand PETA is at it again, trying to replace Punxsutawney Phil. Hear what their "genius idea" is this year & more, like an animal nearly triggering World War 3 MT Parker is a plush groundhog prognosticator who makes a yearly Groundhog Day prediction from Stauffer Mansion in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Parker is a small but determined orator, emerging from his cozy tree-trunk house into the February cold and proclaiming his predictions from the balcony to throngs of dedicated fans.
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