Groundhog Day, or February 2nd, is the day when woodchucks tell Canadians what awaits them in the mo. Menu . 11. Groundhog Day in Ontario. Oil Springs Ollie Groundhog Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States every year on 2 February. of Wiarton, Ontario, is the most famous groundhog and has been predicting Wiarton Willie is the name given to a Canadian groundhog who lives in the community of Wiarton in Bruce County, Ontario. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival. His role is to predict whether there will be an early spring. Although the original Wiarton Willie died in 1999, the Wiarton Open to residents of Ontario, Canada only. No substitutions. Prediction morning and Festival details (Sun Feb 2, 2025) Wiarton's Groundhog Day tradition was born. Groundhog Day is on Friday (Feb. 2). The annual event in Canada and the United States is based on a folklore that if a groundhog comes out of its burrow and sees its shadow, winter will go on for another six weeks; but if the groundhog doesn’t see its shadow, spring will arrive early. Some Christian churches also celebrate Candlemas on this day, while others use Groundhog Day to take down their Christmas decorations. Groundhog Day is growing more and more popular in Canada. There is a festival in Wiarton, Bruce County, Ontario, where the town groundhog, Wiarton Willie, delivers his “prediction” early in the morning on On Friday, shortly after 8 a.m., a groundhog was carried out onto the stage at Wiarton Arena, to decide the fate of winter for Ontarians as part of annual Groundhog Day ceremonies. Groundhog Day Celebrations occuring in 2025 Ontario N0H 2T0: Chilly Charlie: Groundhog mascot: 02/02/25: 8:15am EST: South Gate Centre: 191 Old Wellington St S Ontario, Canada. The farming community in both US and Canada is celebrating Groundhog Day today. The centuries-old tradition involves a playground activity featuring their localised groundhog celebrity. In the tradition where folklore dominates science, groundhog delivers weather prediction based on whether or not it sees its own shadow. Groundhog Day was marked in the U.S., with the first prediction by Punxsutawney Phil in 1886, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's website reports. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made About Mike. Middlemiss Mike is a plush prairie dog prognosticator from Melbourne, Ontario. Jack Galbraith (pictured) started the event in 2007, remarking that weather predictions in faraway Punxatawney aren’t typically accurate in Ontario. Nova Scotia's groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, and Quebec's Fred la Marmotte both predicted a long winter ahead, while Ontario's Wiarton Willie claimed an early spring is on the way. 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 There are 82 prognosticators throughout North America: 68 in the USA, and 14 in Canada. Use the map to find your nearest Groundhog Day prognosticator (unless you’re from Saskatchewan — sorry bud). Fenwick Flossie is a prognosticating Person in a groundhog suit from Pelham in Ontario, Canada. In 2024, Flossie predicted an early spring. Groundhog Day originated from an ancient European tradition called Candlemas Day, where clergy would bless candles and distribute them to ward off the darkness of winter. The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 2024 GROUNDHOG DAY RESULTS Lucy The Lobster: Barrington Passage, N.S. - Six more weeks of winter. Wiarton Willie: Ontario - Early spring (April Walker/The Weather Network) O n Friday, shortly after 8 a.m., a groundhog was carried out onto the stage at Wiarton Arena, to decide the fate of winter for Ontarians as part of annual Groundhog Day ceremonies. Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2, Gary the Groundhog of Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada. Spanish Joe of Spanish In 2022, Groundhog Day was on Wednesday, February 2nd. Most groundhogs (57%) predicted an early spring. Ontario, Canada.
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