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 Should be remaining on Candlemas Day. On Candlemas Day, The good goose begins to lay. When the wind’s in the east on Candlemas Day, There it will stick till the 2nd of May. On Candlemas Day, if the thorns hang a drop, You are sure of a good pea crop. More About Groundhogs! What exactly IS a groundhog? Also known as a woodchuck or whistlepig 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 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. 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. In the United States the most popular event occurs in Pennsylvania and centers on a groundhog designated Punxsutawney Phil. 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 Groundhog Day was popularized by the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray. The film brought widespread attention to the tradition. The Groundhog's Role. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, play a central role in this unique celebration. Here are some interesting facts about these furry forecasters. 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 In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob. Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world. The movie‘s popularity had a significant impact on the real-life Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney. Attendance at the event soared in the years following the film‘s release, with crowds growing from around 2,000 in the early 1990s to over 40,000 in recent years. The Enduring Appeal of Groundhog Day In Europe, groundhogs weren't the animal of choice for the festival, according to the almanac. France and England looked to the bear for a sign. It’s that time of year where we’re burrowed indoors and spending cozy days and nights with loved ones. Basically, it is the perfect time to celebrate Groundhog Day! To help preschoolers and toddlers prepare for this fun tradition, we’ve compiled 10 Groundhog Day crafts and activities to help you and your little ones ce Celebrate the magic with us at these unforgettable events with Groundhog Day festivities kick off in Woodstock!: 📅 Jan 30, 2025 Children’s Groundhog Storytime @ Old Courthouse Center Welcoming of the Groundhog @ Old Courthouse Center 📅 Jan 31, 2025 Groundhog Day Movie Memorabilia Open House Groundhog Day Dinner Dance “Groundhog Day” the Movie Groundhog Day the Musical @ Woodstock A Groundhog Club handler holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-prognosticating groundhog, during the 133rd celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2, 2019. Thanks to a small town in northern Illinois, Groundhog Day is bigger than one chubby rodent and its shadow dropping a dubious weather forecast. In Woodstock, the groundhog takes a backseat to the real cause for celebration: the 1993 Bill Murray movie that was filmed there. WNIJ’s Under Rocks team visited the famed town square with the head of the annual festival (and Groundhog Day movie PETA activists are calling for Punxsutawney Phil, the region's fluffiest weather predictor, to be replaced with a vegan "weather reveal cake" during Sunday's annual Groundhog Day celebration in When is Groundhog Day 2025? Groundhog Day will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Thousands will show up in person, with the grounds to Gobblers Knob opening at 4 a.m., and millions will tune in to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. More: Where to watch Bill Murray's 1993 classic movie 'Groundhog Day' for Groundhog Day. What is Here's when Groundhog Day began: The first mention of Groundhog Day came in 1886 in Punxsutawney. Over the years, several other locations have begun using their own groundhog, including General Groundhog Day 2024: Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow and more winter Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter ahead. Groundhogs may not have a great track record when it comes to weather forecasts The NOAA recently posted a Grading the Groundhogs study on their website, which they wrote is “in honor of Groundhog Day and in the spirit of fun,” comparing the accuracy of Groundhog Day
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.