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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 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. 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 The movie features a reporter who is covering the famous Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney, but because he never changes his ways, the same day keeps repeating over and over again. No matter how you celebrate the day, there is no denying Groundhog Day is a classic American tradition. 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 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 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 has its roots in ancient midwinter ceremonies. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? It dates back to ancient traditions — first pagan, then Christian — marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, says Troy Harman, a history professor at Penn State University who also works as a ranger at Gettysburg National There's still a lot we can learn from Groundhog Day, both about our climate and our culture, several experts told NPR. Daniel Blumstein is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA 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 Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day? The surprising history of Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil's rise to fame goes back thousands of years. Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day? Here's what to know about the history of the oddball winter holiday The holiday began as a part of the Christian celebration of Candlemas Day in Europe. The time of year is finally here. February 2 is marked as Groundhog Day. The end of January is exciting for the people of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for a specific groundhog who resides there. According to American folklore, February 2nd is the day designated for the groundhog to awake from its hibernation and predict the weather. 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 While Groundhog Day is a long-celebrated tradition, first occuring in its current location of Gobbler's Knob in 1887, the 1993 film “Groundhog Day” has long been thought to be the reason The Groundhog Day is basically a German tradition. In native Germany, hedgehogs were used to detect if the winter will run long or if it has come to an end. It is believed that they can predict the weather accurately by observing the shadow of its own. Every year on the 2 nd of February the Groundhog Day is celebrated in Punxsutawney Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day? Here's what to know about the history of the oddball winter holiday The holiday began as a part of the Christian celebration of Candlemas Day in Europe. Why, then, do we continue looking to creatures for answers on Feb. 2, year after year after year? (One could say it's almost like the 1993 comedy "Groundhog Day" or even exactly like that.) Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day? CGPGrey explains the history behind the holiday. Watch. Think. 2 Multiple Choice & 1 Open Answer Questions. Dig Deeper. Learn More A Groundhog is a small, furry animal that looks like a mixture of a squirrel and a badger. According to the tradition, each year one of the furry creatures can predict when spring will arrive.
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