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 But, before they made the trek to America, they checked to see if a hedgehog saw its shadow, not a groundhog. Due to a lack of hedgehogs, the settlers began using another hibernating mammal: The It was proclaimed by the “Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” in 1887, the same year they declared Punxsutawney to be the weather capital of the world. Every February 2, the “faithful followers of Phil” can await his arrival starting at 6 a.m., thanks to a livestream provided by Visit Pennsylvania. Uncover the history of Groundhog Day and why a groundhog predicts the end of Settlers from Germany began using the groundhog when they came to the United States as they are more common in the 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. The first-ever Groundhog Day was created by a local newspaper editor Clymer Freas around 1886, who convinced Groundhog hunter and local businessman, and all members of his Punxsutawney Groundhog club on the idea of Groundhog Day. Together, they all made their way to Gobbler’s Knob where the Groundhog would make the final decision on the weather. (They supposedly speak to the groundhog in “Groundhogese.”) Every February 2, tens of thousands of spectators attend Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney, a borough that’s home to some 6,000 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 Attendance at the town’s annual groundhog event ballooned from 1,000 people to more than 35,000. The film also created a modern idiom—the repetition of a monotonous or unpleasant situation is said to be experiencing a Groundhog Day—even though repetition has nothing to do with the tradition of Groundhog Day other than its annual observance. 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. Finding no badgers, they turned to the groundhog. Who is Punxsutawney Phil? Punxsutawney Phil is the best-known groundhog who has been making predictions since 1886, according to Punxsutawney The Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler's Knob started in 1887. Aside from a 10-year gap, records for each prognostication have been meticulously kept. Over the years, Phil has predicted six more They typically only have one period of above ground activity per day, but in hot weather they may have two shorter periods in the morning and evening. Groundhog Hibernation In winter, groundhogs hibernate for 3-6 months in underground burrows. As the most famous Groundhog Day celebration in the world, you might be able to assume that the ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob is not the only event Punxsutawney hosts for Groundhog Day. Indeed, there will be numerous events and activities throughout the week leading up to 2025 Groundhog Day, like brewery parties, a talent show, and a bar crawl. Supposedly, if they see their shadow, we have six more weeks of winter. Conversely, if they do not see their shadow, spring is on its way. Groundhog and Human Interaction. Outside of the holiday, humans do not interact with this species extensively. Sometimes their burrows do pose something of a problem to farmers and in people’s gardens. 9. How do you stop the groundhogs from chasing people on skis? Take away their skis. 10. Did the Groundhog catch some fog the other day? No, he mist. There, they wait for groundhog Punxsutawney Phil to come out of hibernation. Following the popularity of the 1993 Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day," the event increased in popularity 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. The Knob will be open February 1, the day BEFORE Groundhog Day, until 4:00pm. The Knob closes to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for site and festivity preparation. The Knob opens back up to vehicular traffic on February 2 nd around 10 am, after all buses have transported visitors off the Knob. There, they wait for groundhog Punxsutawney Phil to come out of hibernation. Following the popularity of the 1993 Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day," the event increased in popularity
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