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. 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 There's still a lot we can learn from Groundhog Day, both about our climate and our culture, several experts told NPR. National These 2 groundhogs have conflicting weather predictions — so take There's still a lot we can learn from Groundhog Day, both about our climate and our culture, several experts told NPR. Daniel Blumstein is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA Groundhog Day is a long standing ritual that is marked annually on official calendars. What’s behind continuing this holiday? Because, why not! Lighthearted customs—especially jovial ones—give us things to look forward to that distract us from the mundane or chaotic nature of the world. 3 of 15 | . FILE - The groundhog saw his shadow, Feb. 2, 1954, as the sun peeked through an overcast sky at Washington Park Zoo in Milwaukee, Wis. The arrival of annual Groundhog Day celebrations Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, will draw thousands of people to see celebrity woodchuck Phil at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. — an event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie. 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, 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 Regardless of the reasons why we turn to a groundhog to predict if spring is coming, Punxsutawney Phil — as every participating hedgehog has been called since 1887 — is never very accurate. Groundhog Day nevertheless represents a day for us to gather together and celebrate that we are halfway through the winter, however much longer the 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. 10. Did the Groundhog catch some fog the other day? No, he mist. 11. What did Obi-Wan say to Groundhog? If every day feels like Groundhog Day, maybe it’s time to paws and reflect! 12. Why is Punxsutawney Phil always cold? Because he has many fans. 13. When does a groundhog come before a woodchuck? In the dictionary. Groundhog Day has its roots in ancient midwinter ceremonies. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? It dates back to ancient traditions — first pagan, then Christian — marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, says Troy Harman, a history professor at Penn State University who also works as a ranger at Gettysburg National Groundhog Day has its roots in ancient midwinter ceremonies. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? It dates back to ancient traditions — first pagan, then Christian — marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, says Troy Harman, a history professor at Penn State University who also works as a ranger at Gettysburg National How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. — and why we still celebrate it 138 years later By Rachel Treisman Published February 2, 2023 at 2:11 AM PST Groundhog Day has its roots in ancient midwinter ceremonies. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? It dates back to ancient traditions — first pagan, then Christian — marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, says Troy Harman, a history professor at Penn State University who also works as a ranger at Gettysburg National How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. — and why we still celebrate it 138 years later By Rachel Treisman Published February 2, 2023 at 5:11 AM EST How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. — and why we still celebrate it 138 years later By Rachel Treisman Published February 2, 2023 at 5:11 AM EST How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. — and why we still celebrate it 138 years later By Rachel Treisman Published February 2, 2023 at 5:11 AM EST The Bodyguard and Groundhog Day are not 80s movies. They came out in the early 90s, and besides that feel really of the decade to me (at least the first part of it). But I take your point that so many movies from the 80s and 90s have been adapted, although I quite liked Groundhog Day personally. Ghost is another example. Exactly. I can still enjoy the movie for what it is. A funny and warm comedy. But when people pretend that Groundhog Day has a deep meaning or that we can learn something from it, I get a bit annoyed. If the movie was that serious, it would not stand up to a critical assessment.
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