13. Crowds of up to 40,000 people have attended the Groundhog Day celebration. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, home to under 6,000 residents, hosts the largest Groundhog Day celebration, attracting an average of 20,000 people annually. The 1993 movie ‘Groundhog Day’ significantly boosted attendance, with a record 40,000 attendees in 2020. Groundhog Day weather predictions were added to this list, as captured in an article in The Miami Herald from February 2, 1943, where forecaster H. A Downes stated that ‘To broadcast that a groundhog does or doesn’t see his shadow might reveal sky conditions to the enemy. Annual Groundhog Day predictions will have to be skipped.’ 6. "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 Explore Groundhog Day's shadowy history as well as interesting facts about the custom. By: History.com Staff Updated: January 30, 2024 | Original: February 2, 2012 Groundhog Day is an offshoot of the Christian celebration of Candlemas, which is held every February 2—exactly 40 days after Christmas. In parts of Europe, it was believed that a sunny Candlemas Groundhog Fun Facts. 1. Punxsutawney Phil is the official groundhog forecaster on February 2, but many states have their own (like New York’s Staten Island Chuck). 2. Phil’s full name, granted by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, is Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Facts. The groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2. If the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges, there will be six more weeks of winter. ALSO SEE: The legend of the immortal The first official Groundhog Day took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The event took up permanent residence at Gobbler’s Knob the following year. As the myth of Groundhog Day goes, if a groundhog sees its shadow on February 2, winter will last another six weeks. And while Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers maintain 100 percent accuracy in his 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. That’s only 2% higher than the national average of 37%. Currently, the most accurate groundhog prognosticator lives in Yellowknife, California and has a 50% accuracy rate. 7. Groundhog Day was almost Badger Day instead. Groundhog Day originally evolved from Candlemas, a celebration of both literal and religious light. Either way, the teachers on the Teach Starter team have got you covered with fun facts about groundhogs, plus some interesting facts about Groundhog Day itself. Read on to find out why these furry creatures get to predict the weather, plus a fact about groundhog bathrooms that’s sure to be a hit with your class! Fun Groundhog Facts for Kids The movie Groundhog Day made groundhog day much more famous. The movie Groundhog Day, filmed in Woodstock, Illinois, was made in 1993, made groundhog day more famous. The film is a comedy film for which Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin wrote the screenplay, and it stars Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott. Murray plays Phil Connors, a Groundhog Day Facts. The first Groundhog Day celebration took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, has been predicting the weather since 1887. If a groundhog sees its shadow on Groundhog Day, legend says there will be six more weeks of winter. In some places, Groundhog Day is also known Groundhog Day has become a beloved and widely recognized event, capturing the imagination of people across the United States. However, it is crucial to remember the true nature of Groundhog Day – a fun and light-hearted celebration that continues to charm and entertain audiences. Groundhog Day Superstitions – Shadow and Weather Correlation With Feb. 2 just around the corner, here are some fun facts about Phil and his Groundhog Club, based in Punxsutawney, Pa. Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow during annual Groundhog Day event in During hibernation, a groundhog’s body temperature drops from 99 degrees to 37 degrees. At a dead sprint, groundhogs reach a maximum speed of 8 mph. No match for a hungry fox that can hit 25 mph! Boy groundhogs pop their head up in February and emerge from their dens to wander around looking for female burrows. Groundhog Day may sound silly, but the traditions and little facts of the day really make it a fun one to share with your kids. You can stream Punxsutawney Phil coming out of his burrow on Feb. 2 Nine fun facts about groundhogs. Every February 2, Americans celebrate Groundhog Day. On that day, Punxsutawney Phil, a Pennsylvania groundhog, predicts how many weeks of winter remain. While you’ve likely heard about this fun legend, what else do you know about this native rodent? National Groundhog Day Celebrations. National Groundhog Day is celebrated in various ways across North America. In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the festivities start a day before with a Groundhog Day Eve celebration. This includes live music, food vendors, and a bonfire to keep warm during the winter night. Other towns have their own versions of
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