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 The Pennsylvania Lottery's mascot is a groundhog named Gus, referred to in commercials as "the second most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania", in deference to Phil. [26] Because the Groundhog Club Inner Circle has trademarked the use of the name "Punxsutawney Phil", no commercial entity may use the name without the permission from the Inner 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. 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. 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 Christian festival known as Candlemas – a festival of light – is also observed on Feb. 2, and is also a precursor to Groundhog Day. "The name refers to the candles lit that day in churches GROUNDHOG DAY 2024. What is the name of the groundhog used for Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day is celebrated every 2 February, across the US but there “is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. Groundhog Day By Numbers. 1841 – A storekeeper named James Morris wrote and marked the date February 2 as Candlemas Day. 40,000 – The number of people who attend the Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 1886 – The year the first Groundhog Day was held in Punxsutawney. What is the scientific name for the groundhog? Reveal Answer Marmota monax Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are a type of marmot found in North America. 20. What is the name of the location in Punxsutawney where the Groundhog Day ceremony takes place? 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 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. When is Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day is Sunday, Feb. 2. Where is the groundhog from? The answer is in his name. The groundhog is known as Punxsutawney Phil, because the town where the Groundhog You probably know the holiday just by the name “Punxsutawney,” as the town shares its name with the hero of the day, the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Groundhog Day is most famous at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, the site where Punxsutawney Phil leaves his burrow on the morning of Feb. 2 to predict whether we will have an early spring. 1993 - Columbia Pictures releases the movie, "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray.In the years following the release of the movie, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler's Knob Punxsutawney Phil with his groundhog inner circle. | Jeff Swensen/Getty Images. Punxsutawney Phil has been in charge of telling us how long winter will wear on (and, conversely, when spring will Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis from a screenplay by him and Danny Rubin.Starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott, it tells the story of a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2 repeatedly. In 2014, a mishap occurred when de Blasio dropped a stand-in groundhog named Charlotte, adding to the already dramatic history of Chuck’s Groundhog Day appearances. “Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow.” Freas also declared Phil to be the only true weather-forecasting groundhog. By the way, Phil's full name is; “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.” Maybe he just has a great publicist, but for far too long Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who predicts whether we’re in for six more weeks of wintry weather on Feb. 2 (Groundhog Day), has
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