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 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 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 Here is what you need to know about Groundhog Day: the day dedicated to a weather-predicting rodent. However, Phil is the most famous, and according to his website, "the only true weather Where did Groundhog Day come from? The story is a weird one, involving a Roman hedgehog, a Celtic witch, and a bunch of candles. The true story behind Groundhog Day. Written by Kristine The Groundhog Day tradition came to North America from German settlers in Pennsylvania. The celebration dates back to Candlemas Day , a Christian holiday observed on February 2nd. Whether you‘re a true believer in Phil‘s prognosticating powers or simply enjoy the spectacle of it all, there‘s no denying the charm and humor of Groundhog Day. So this February 2nd, join the crowds at Gobbler‘s Knob (or tune in from the comfort of your own burrow) and raise a toast to Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting wonder. Every year on February 2, crowds gather at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to watch a groundhog emerge for the day—just like in the classic Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. You 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. 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 "The best known Groundhog Day ceremony occurs each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania." "Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors." If you’re looking for something a little different to break the monotony of the winter season, here are some fun and unique ways to celebrate Groundhog Day. 1. Watch Groundhog Day—and Live It Like Bill Murray! Let’s be honest: Groundhog Day (the movie) is as synonymous with the holiday as the actual groundhog. Bill Murray’s comedic What is your favorite Groundhog Day book? 4. Search for Shadows and Words . Teri, from A Cupcake for the Teacher, is a teacher who celebrates Groundhog Day with her class through word searches and surveys to see how many students think the Groundhog will see its shadow. Check out her free printable word search on her blog. 5. Peak-A-Boo Groundhog 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. 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 A Pittsburgh weatherman on assignment in Punxsutawney gets stuck in a comic time-warp and must experience the same Groundhog Day, over and over again. Subtitles : English Starring : Bill Murray Andie MacDowell Chris Elliott Stephen Tobolowsky Brian Doyle-Murray Dressed sharply in a top hat and bow tie, Orphie has made annual predictions since 1926, with a record of 73 predictions (79%) for six more weeks of winter and 19 (21%) for an early spring. The German's first used a hedgehog instead of a groundhog. True or False? What year did the first official Groundhog Day take place? A) 1655. B) 1887. C) 2022. In a Jan. 20 statement, PETA announced that it has offered the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club a free vegan cake every year if it allows Punxsutawney Phil to retire.
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