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 In 1886, Groundhog Day was acknowledged for the first time in Punxsutawney by a local newspaper, Weathers Wags, according to the club. In 1887, the first official pilgrimage to see Phil on Gobbler 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 But how exactly did the groundhog become the deciding factor — at least in the realm of myth and mystery — in determining when exactly winter will end and spring begins? 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 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 In 1993, the film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray popularised the use of the term ‘groundhog day’ to mean something that is endlessly repeated.It also popularised the event itself: after the film came out, the crowd at Gobbler’s Knob grew from around 2,000 annual attendees to a staggering 40,000, which is nearly 8 times the population of Punxsutawney. 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 What is Groundhog Day, anyway? 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 America has been looking to Punxsutawney Phil for over 130 years to indicate whether or not we'll have a short or long winter. But Groundhog Day goes back way further than that. Here's the complete history of the holiday, as well as when it is and how Punxsutawney Phil came to be. If the day is sunny and the groundhog sees its own shadow, there will be six more weeks of cold weather, according to legend – but if it's a cloudy day, and there is no shadow, spring has arrived. On average though, only 42% of Groundhog Days on record have recorded precipitation and only 38% have seen snowfall. Record precipitation for the day was set back in 1919 with 0.67″, however average precipitation for the day is around 0.02″ here in Sioux City. Although snow is relatively uncommon on Groundhog Day, it has happened. 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 Groundhog Day is coming up quickly. If Phil sees his shadow, that means we are in for a long winter. If you're not sure exactly what Groundhog Day is, or why it's celebrated, look no further It's Groundhog Day in the US once again - but what is it, exactly, and why should you care? Here's why Groundhog metabolism responds to the surface temperatures from deep within their hibernation den, and if the temperature warms up enough, they will be forced out of hibernation and into the world in search of food. This commonly happens while there is still snow on the ground, and explains why groundhog day is celebrated in early February. Perhaps the most famous portrayal of Groundhog Day in popular culture is the 1993 film "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray. The film is a comedic exploration of the concept of time loops, with the protagonist reliving the same day repeatedly. Harold Ramis’ 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” is so entertaining, you’ll want to see it again, and again, and again. Explore meanings and central themes in the movie. The legend goes that if it is a clear sunny day, the groundhog will see its own shadow. This means it will return to its burrow and winter will continue for another six weeks. Groundhog Day has its roots in another February 2 celebration. Groundhog Day is an offshoot of the Christian celebration of Candlemas, which is held every February 2—exactly 40 days after
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