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 And what does February 2nd have to do with it? But Groundhog Day actually has deep roots in a much older Christian tradition. Furthermore, the day that we celebrate Groundhog's Day has some real meteorological significance, designating the halfway point between two important markers in the changing of the seasons (via EarthSky.) 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 Feb. 2 millions can't help but wait and see if a groundhog, most specifically Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow or not which in turn determines winter's extension or spring's early arrival. 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 In Alaska, instead of a groundhog, they use a marmot to predict the weather on February 2nd. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, a group of local dignitaries, is responsible for caring for Phil and organizing the annual event. Groundhog Day in Pop Culture. Groundhog Day has made its mark in pop culture, thanks to movies, TV shows An unusual, yet beloved holiday February 2nd is Groundhog Day, the day when a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil predicts whether or not we will have six more weeks of winter. If he sees his shadow, more cold is on the way; if not, warmer weather is coming. While this holiday may seem like a silly tradition, it has a surprisingly deep history. Ancient Traditions Every year on February 2nd, people across the United States and Canada eagerly await the weather prediction of a furry, four-legged prognosticator: the groundhog. This quirky tradition, known as Groundhog Day, has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations. But where did this unusual custom come from, and why has it endured for so long? 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. Most of us know the tradition: on February 2, our old friend the groundhog will emerge from hibernation, come out of his den, and predict whether winter will deliver more cold weather this year. If the groundhog sees his shadow, the story goes, cold weather will persist another few weeks. If not, warm weather is around the corner. If you like the folklore of holidays, you may be interested to As Groundhog Day approaches on February 2nd, it’s the perfect opportunity to share some silly jokes with the kids. This quirky holiday brings excitement as we eagerly await whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. In modern times, the year’s four cross-quarter days are Groundhog Day (February 2), May Day (May 1), Lammas (August 1) and – the most sinister cross-quarter day because it comes at a dark time Free Printable Groundhog Day Activity Sheets | Fun February activities for preschool, pre k, kindergarten. Maze, matching, fine motor + graphing. Great winter ideas! Every February 2nd, fans watch Groundhog Day and take a lesson or two from this very special film, one which reminds us to live for today, and not for the next six weeks, winter or otherwise. Beyond the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day,” which turned the holiday into a pop culture staple, people have held “Groundhog Day” marathons where they watch the movie on repeat. The concept of reliving the same day also sparked the “time loop” genre in film and TV, including hits like Edge of Tomorrow and Russian Doll . Groundhog handler Ben Hughes watches Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow, suggesting an early spring during Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2011, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. So for the animals themselves, Groundhog Day is more like Valentine’s Day. On February 2nd, groundhogs don’t emerge to predict the weather, but to predict whether their own mating season will 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. The celebration of Groundhog Day would need to change by latitude in order to perfectly match groundhog emergence. Groundhog Day is more like Valentine’s Day. On February 2nd, groundhogs don 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 groundhog day celebrations continue each year with the original Willie's successors, referred to as "Wee Willie."
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