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Groundhog Day is a tradition that has taken place annually in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania since Feb. 2, 1987. A groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is brought out at sunrise to make a prediction on how the remaining winter will play out. PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. -- Here's a look at Groundhog Day, an American tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive. Facts. The groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2. If the 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. 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 Groundhog Day has been celebrated in the United States since at least February 2, 1886. Starting in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with its now-famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, the tradition spread throughout America. It is now celebrated all over, and not just with groundhogs. 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. 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. Groundhog Day is observed in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 2 every year and falls on a Sunday in 2025. Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day is more than just a classic movie starring 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 3 of 15 | . FILE - The groundhog saw his shadow, Feb. 2, 1954, as the sun peeked through an overcast sky at Washington Park Zoo in Milwaukee, Wis. The arrival of annual Groundhog Day celebrations Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, will draw thousands of people to see celebrity woodchuck Phil at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. — an event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie. Groundhogs are diurnal mammals, which means they do all their activity during the daylight hours. Groundhog Habitat: Where Do Groundhogs Live? Groundhogs live in underground burrows in open fields that edge against forests to the north and east of the great plains. They also occur in similar habitats in the northwest. Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter ahead. Groundhogs may not have a great track record when it comes to weather forecasts, but experts say the tradition sheds light on our culture and environment. 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 This species forages primarily during the early morning and late afternoon. However, it does collect and eat food throughout the day as well. It is not uncommon for this rodent to eat a pound or more of food in a single day. Groundhog’s Day. The famous namesake of this species, Groundhog’s Day, falls on February 2 nd every year. During this UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck or whistle pig, is one of Pennsylvania's most widely distributed mammals. Derived from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that winter will continue if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, Groundhog Day is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on Feb. 2. Groundhogs emerge from their burrows on Sunday to tell us if we can expect an early spring. Will they see their shadows? Groundhog Day 2025: Will Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck see their Groundhog Day should be on everyone’s bucket list. Groundhog Day is held at Gobbler’s Knob, a field a little under two miles outside of downtown Punxsutawney, PA. The gates to the grounds open at 3am. No tickets are required as Groundhog Day is a free event. From 3am until approximately 7:20am, a party happens at Gobbler’s Knob. A groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil is central to the traditional Groundhog Day celebrations held each year on the 2 nd of February in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It’s said that if Phil emerges from his burrow and is able to see his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter. 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 average groundhog weighs as much as 11lbs. Despite their stocky build, they are surprisingly quick. Groundhogs are also good swimmers and tree climbers. They have two layers of fur: a dense grey undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs that gives the groundhog a “frosted” appearance.
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