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. 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 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. In the 1880s, Clymer H. Freas, the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper, had the idea to make Groundhog Day a formal holiday, and naming Punxsutawney Phil as the official weather-predicting groundhog. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, established in 1887, carries on the tradition today. While other cities have similar celebrations, there 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 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 Murray film Groundhog Day. You "Groundhog Day is a reminder that even in the midst of the coldest, bleakest times, we can find joy and laughter in the simple things. It‘s a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit." – Dr. Lisa Thompson, psychologist. In many ways, the themes of the "Groundhog Day" movie mirror the enduring appeal of the tradition itself. Crowds as large as 30,000 have turned out to Punxsutawney for multi-day Groundhog Day festivities, which the state calls a significant tourism boost for the town of fewer than 6,000 people. 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 Bring Groundhog Day to life with a puppet activity that lets kids make their peek-a-boo groundhog. The playful design encourages storytelling and imaginative play, making it a hit for little animal lovers. Groundhog Day is a tradition that has taken place annually in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania since Feb. 2, 1987. A groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is brought out at sunrise to make a Freddie will make his prediction during the annual Groundhog Day Celebration at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in French Creek, which is open to the public and will begin at 9:30 a.m. “Freddie is currently hibernating, but he’ll wake up on Sunday to welcome hundreds of visitors,” a West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Make Groundhog-Themed Treats. Groundhog Day is the perfect excuse to get creative in the kitchen. You can make themed treats that celebrate the day—and maybe even Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger) Gates open at 6 a.m. Beau will make his prediction at sunrise with the ceremony starting at 7:30 a.m. Visitors will be able to grab food, drinks, and special souvenir shirts honoring the furry In some places, Groundhog Day is also known as Candlemas Day. Punxsutawney Phil has his own club called the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Some people celebrate Groundhog Day by making groundhog-shaped cookies – yum! People in various locations across the United States and Canada celebrate this Groundhog Day tradition. The Brief. General Beauregard "Beau" Lee will set to make his annual weather prediction on Sunday in Georgia. If Beau sees his shadow when he pops out of his mansion at Dauset Trails Nature Center Groundhog handler AJ Derume holds Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow, predicting late spring during the 136th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2022, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
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