In 2019, for the 133rd year of the tradition, the groundhog was summoned to come out at 7:25 am on February 2, but did not see its shadow. [50] Fans of Punxsutawney Phil awaited his arrival starting at 6:00 am, thanks to a live stream provided by Visit Pennsylvania. On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog MACON, Ga. — Groundhog Day has been an annual tradition since the very first celebration was held on Feb. 2nd, 1877 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. If the groundhog sees its shadow, there is six 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, Feb. 2, is coming up, and soon Punxsutawney Phil will tell us what to expect from the weeks to come. The holiday dates back hundreds of years, and has grown to be a widely The Groundhog Day tradition dates back to Germany where a badger was used to determine the coming of spring. "When the Germans came to America in the 1700s and settled in Pennsylvania, they He issued this proclamation on, appropriately enough, Groundhog Day, February 2nd. Punxsutawney Phil's fame began to spread, and newspapers from around the globe began to report Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day predictions. Today, over 20,000 fans come to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day is perhaps one of the Pennsylvania Dutch community's most well-known cultural inventions – although the Amish themselves do not celebrate it, since it is not a religious holiday. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell attended Groundhog Day ceremonies in 2003, making him the first sitting governor ever to do so. Governor Tom Corbett also attended the ceremony in 2012, while Governor Shapiro and his family spent Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob shortly after taking office in 2023. From 1887 to 2021, Phil saw his shadow 104 times and did not see his shadow 20 times. A full list of Groundhog Day predictions can be found here.Pennsylvania’s famous groundhog has become a pop culture icon in the world of politics and entertainment, as well as making appearances across the county. Groundhog Day predictions may not be 100 percent accurate, but the tradition of having a groundhog predict the weather remains a steadfast in Punxsutawney. How did the shadow tradition come to When is Groundhog Day 2025? Groundhog Day will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Thousands will show up in person, with the grounds to Gobblers Knob opening at 4 a.m., and millions will tune in to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. More: Where to watch Bill Murray's 1993 classic movie 'Groundhog Day' for Groundhog Day. What is Groundhog day originally came from an old tradition called Candlemas Day that started in the United States in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 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 groundhog is known as Punxsutawney Phil, because the town where the Groundhog Day tradition originated is called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. A big celebration is still held in the town to this When German settlers moved to Pennsylvania, they continued to tradition but decided to use a groundhog instead. First Celebration. Groundhog Day was celebrated for the first time on February 2, 1887, at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. A newspaper editor, Clymer H. Freas, was a The 1993 comedy movie, Groundhog Day, takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Groundhog Day. The main character (played by Bill Murray) is forced to relive the day over and over again until he can learn to give up his selfishness and become a better person. [18] While Groundhog Day is primarily celebrated in North America, variations of the tradition can be found in other parts of the world, with different animals used for weather predictions. Conclusion. Groundhog Day is a beloved tradition that continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of people across North America and beyond. 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. How did the shadow tradition come to be? Groundhog.org states using an animal to predict the weather stems from beliefs associated with Candlemas Day celebrated by early Christians in Europe
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