Carol DM
In the US and Canada, every year on Feb. 2, America’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerges from his burrow, and looks for his shadow. All photos courtesy of Pixabay.
If he sees his shadow, the legend goes, six more weeks of winter lie ahead. And if he doesn’t see his shadow, there will be an early spring. It is a pretty big deal and he is usually right with his predictions. However there are doubters out there who have their own ways of predicting the weather.
The roots of Groundhog Day can be traced back to a Christian holiday called Candlemas Day in Germany. Candlemas (Lichtmess) was a legal holiday in Bavaria until 1912.
Each year, between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, members of the clergy would bless and distribute candles needed to get people through the remaining winter days. Tradition went that winter would continue if Candlemas Day was sunny and clear, but spring would come soon if the weather was cloudy.
The Germans expanded on Candlemas Day by taking weather hints from a hedgehog, says William Deeley, president of the Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania Groundhog Club, which is responsible for the nation’s largest and most famous Groundhog Day celebration in the US.
“We were all farmers, and we basically were depending on the animals to help us with the weather,” Deeley said. “We didn’t have weather satellites. We didn’t have barometers for this and barometers for that.” Instead, German folklore said that if the hedgehog cast a shadow on Candlemas Day, winter would continue for six more weeks.
When German immigrants began to settle in Pennsylvania in the 1880s, they adapted the custom to use the more common groundhog, Deeley explains. The tradition stuck, and continues to this day.
The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000 gather each year (nearly eight times the year-round population of the town). The average crowd had been about 2,000 until the year after the movie screened in 1993, (Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray) after which attendance rose to tens of thousands.
Today Phil saw his shadow, so that means six more weeks of winter. Here is a live video from earlier today. Video courtesy of YouTube. I think it is so cool how formal the event always is.
thanks so much for this information. The ground hog is cute. We have an odd weather pattern in New Zealand and this custom doesn’t apply we are going through summer. Hot and humid.
You are welcome. I do not envy you with summer weather.
Have you ever stopped to imagine the life of luxury this critter has? He is fed and pampered, all for something that happens only one day per year…rather like Santa Claus. lol
Yes I know but that is how famous celebrities are treated. ha! 🙂
That is for sure! It makes me glad that I’m not a famous celebrity. lol
Absolutely, me too Rex. I prefer to stay in the shadows.
This post is a great way of sharing about the things that are going around us. Love it!
Thanks LaJenna, it is such a big deal I knew many in the rest of world would not be familiar.
We had beautiful weather here today, not just sunny, but also warm. I’m sure there were shadows to be seen, but I wasn’t outside to look. We could actually use a longer winter — especially if it would bring us some rain.
We have had a lot of rain lately but I know what you mean Barbara.
Good to see you!
I’ve decided to spend a bit more time here when I can. So many sites, so little time.
Why more six weeks of winter is because the Philadelphia Eagles are in Super Bowl 52. A joke of course.
Ha that was a good one! I prefer the Eagles over the Patriots.
I remember when I went to see a mechanic in Metairie Louisiana which is a suburb of New Orleans when it showed an image of The Devil buried in snow with the caption “Let me guess, the Saints made the playoffs.:
I used to live in Metairie. Small world.
I still root for the Saints.
Me too but now Lake Charles is my home for now.
Oh no, not 6 more weeks of winter!?! As long as it stays mild for us, I don’t mind though…but don’t want any snow.
Great post about Groundhogs day though,very informative!
In Serbia, a bear predicts lasting of the winter. 🙂
That is so cool to know, thanks for sharing.
An interesting culture! I just found out that there is such a thing in your place. This is an awesome article
Thanks Albert, it is too fun not to share!
I am not an American and I did not know about this tradition. Thanks for this article. It’s not six weeks. Spring knocks on the door.
I know Elenka and that is why i wanted to post about it. I think it is such a cool event.
I always like learning about your cultures and events, so I thought I would share one of ours.