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 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 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 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 The History of Groundhog Day. The Christian religious holiday of Candlemas Day has become most commonly associated with the current celebration, but it’s roots are older than that. The celebration started in Christianity as the day, (February 2nd), when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. 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. Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous groundhog. 1887 marked the first of many Groundhog Days. Each year, on Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil either sees his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter, or doesn't, signaling an early spring. 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 Groundhog Day. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 978-0811700290. External links. All links retrieved June 20, 2024. History of Groundhog Day; Groundhog Day - February 2; Groundhog.org, the official site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The first official Groundhog Day celebration kicked off in 1887, thanks to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in Pennsylvania. They turned what was once a small-time superstition into a full-blown spectacle, with Punxsutawney Phil as the star of the show. The club said the current tradition in Punxsutawney started in 1887, which was the first officially documented trek to Gobbler's Knob, where the ceremony is held. Currently, a group referred to as "the Inner Circle" announces to the world whether Phil has seen his shadow. How did Groundhog Day start? According to the Library of Congress , Groundhog Day traces its history back to an 1840 diary entry by an unnamed Welsh-American storekeeper in Pennsylvania. The first official Groundhog Day took place Feb. 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The 45th annual event is free; gates open at 8:30 a.m. Groundhog Day activities will officially start Temperatures will start out cold with a low of 44 degrees, but things will quickly heat up and reach the high temperature of 66. Beau is no ordinary groundhog — he’s the South’s official You are invited to start your own Groundhog Club Chapter to carry on the tradition of Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day wherever you might be! By starting a Chapter with your friends and neighbors, your group will be the official celebrators of Groundhog Day in your area! Start your chapter online now by following the directions below. Here's when it is and just how we came to have Groundhog Day. When does Spring officially start? It may feel like it but first day of spring is still weeks away 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 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 Start a Chapter; Contact; Groundhog Day is a tradition observed regionally in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. Official Groundhog Day The Groundhog Ball from 7:00pm-11:00pm At The Punxsutawney Country Club Our traditional formal attire event, the Groundhog Ball will feature [] $40.00 February 2025
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