| Groundhog Day | |
|---|---|
Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|
| Type | Cultural |
| Significance | Predicts the arrival of spring |
| Date | February 2 |
| Celebrations | Announcing whether a groundhog sees its shadow after it emerges from its burrow |
Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grundsaudaag, Murmeltiertag) is a day celebrated on February 2. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.
Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow.
In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges (Grundsow Lodges) celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge, social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime, or quarter per word spoken, with the money put into a bowl in the center of the table.
The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day, already a widely recognized and popular tradition, received widespread attention as a result of the 1993 film Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney, PA (though filmed primarily in Woodstock, IL) and portrayed Punxsutawney Phil.
The celebration, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog. It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication and to St. Swithun's Day in July.
The first documented American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry, dated February 4, 1841, of Morgantown, Pennsylvania, storekeeper James Morris:
Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.
In Scotland, the poem:
If Candle-mas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.
An English poem:
If Candle mas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.
In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere, the official first day of spring is almost seven weeks (46–48 days) after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or March 21. The custom could have been a folk embodiment of the confusion created by the collision of two calendrical systems. Some ancient traditions marked the change of season at cross-quarter days such as Imbolc when daylight first makes significant progress against the night. Other traditions held that spring did not begin until the length of daylight overtook night at the Vernal Equinox. So an arbiter, the groundhog/hedgehog, was incorporated as a yearly custom to settle the two traditions. Sometimes spring begins at Imbolc, and sometimes winter lasts six more weeks until the equinox.
The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886. Other celebrations of note in Pennsylvania take place in Quarryville in Lancaster County, the Anthracite Region of Schuylkill County, the Sinnamahoning Valley and Bucks County.
Outside of Pennsylvania, notable celebrations occur in Wiarton, Ontario, and Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia., Val d'Espoir near Percé, Quebec and Winnipeg, Manitoba as well as the Frederick and Hagerstown areas of Maryland, Marion, Ohio, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Woodstock, Illinois, Lilburn, Georgia, among the Amish populations of over twenty states. The University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, has Groundhog Day as an official university holiday and organizes a large-scale celebration every year. It is claimed to be the second largest Groundhog celebration in the world.
| Date | Prediction | Groundhog | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Early spring | Jimmy the Groundhog | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Flatiron Freddy | Boulder, Colorado |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Malverne Mel | Malverne, New York |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Stormy Marmot | Aurora, Colorado |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Shubenacadie Sam | Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Fred | Val d'Espoir, Quebec |
| 2013 | Early spring | Wiarton Willie | Wiarton, Ontario |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Manitoba Merv | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 2013 | Early spring | Winnipeg Willow | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 2013 | Early spring | Potomac Phil | Washington, DC |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Western Maryland Murray | Cumberland, Maryland |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Octorara Orphie | Quarryville, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Poor Richard | York, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Dover Doug | Dover, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Susquehanna Sherman | Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | 6 more weeks of winter | Pine Grove Grover | Pine Grove, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | Early spring | Nibbles | Asheville, North Carolina |
| 2013 | Early spring | Dunkirk Dave | Dunkirk, New York |
| 2013 | Early spring | Woody | Howell, Michigan |
| 2013 | Early spring | Punxsutawney Phil | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | Stormy Marmot | Aurora, Colorado |
| 2012 | Early spring | Woody | Howell, Michigan |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Western Maryland Murray | Cumberland, Maryland |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Grady the Groundhog | Chimney Rock, North Carolina |
| 2012 | Early spring | Nibbles | Asheville, North Carolina |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Queen Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Sir Walter Wally | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 2012 | Early spring | Mortimer | Garner, North Carolina |
| 2012 | Early spring | Chattanooga Chuck | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Uni | Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Mount Joy Minnie | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | Patty Pagoda | Reading, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | French Creek Freddie | French Creek, West Virginia |
| 2012 | Early spring | Woodstock Willie | Woodstock, Illinois |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Balzac Billy | Balzac, Alberta |
| 2012 | Early spring | Sir Thomas Hastings | Hastings, Nebraska |
| 2012 | Early spring | Gus | Athens, Georgia |
| 2012 | Early spring | Octoraro Orphie | Quarryville, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | Dunkirk Dave | Dunkirk, New York |
| 2012 | Early spring | Chuckles | Manchester, Connecticut |
| 2012 | Early spring | Wynter the Groundhog | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| 2012 | Early spring | Dover Doug | Dover, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | Susquehanna Sherman | Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | Poor Richard | York, Pennsylvania |
| 2012 | Early spring | Jimmy the Groundhog | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin |
| 2012 | Early spring | Wiarton Willie | Wiarton, Ontario |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Fred | Val d'Espoir, Quebec |
| 2012 | Early spring | General Beauregard Lee | Lilburn, Georgia |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Malverne Mel | Malverne, New York |
| 2012 | Early spring | Holtsville Hal | Holtsville, New York |
| 2012 | Early spring | Buckeye Chuck | Marion, Ohio |
| 2012 | Early spring | Staten Island Chuck | Staten Island (New York City) |
| 2012 | Early spring | Shubenacadie Sam | Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia |
| 2012 | 6 more weeks of winter | Punxsutawney Phil | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Stormy Marmot | Aurora, Colorado |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Woody | Howell, Michigan |
| 2011 | Early spring | French Creek Freddie | French Creek, West Virginia |
| 2011 | Early spring | Tumbleweed | Brookfield, Illinois |
| 2011 | Early spring | Gus | Athens, Georgia |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Octoraro Orphie | Quarryville, Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Balzac Billy | Balzac, Alberta |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Sir Walter Wally | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 2011 | Early spring | Grady the Groundhog | Chimney Rock, North Carolina |
| 2011 | Early spring | Chuckles | Manchester, Connecticut |
| 2011 | Early spring | Susquehanna Sherman | Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Poor Richard | York, Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Dover Doug | Dover, Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | Early spring | Malverne Mel | Malverne, New York |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Holtsville Hal | Holtsville, New York |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Uni | Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | Early spring | Wiarton Willie | Wiarton, Ontario |
| 2011 | Early spring | Shubenacadie Sam | Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia |
| 2011 | Early spring | Jimmy the Groundhog | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin |
| 2011 | 6 more weeks of winter | Western Maryland Murray | Cumberland, Maryland |
| 2011 | Early spring | Staten Island Chuck | Staten Island (New York City) |
| 2011 | Early spring | Buckeye Chuck | Marion, Ohio |
| 2011 | Early spring | Dunkirk Dave | Dunkirk, New York |
| 2011 | Early spring | General Beauregard Lee | Lilburn, Georgia |
| 2011 | Early spring | Punxsutawney Phil | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | Early spring | Gus | Athens, Georgia |
| 2010 | Early spring | Queen Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 2010 | Early spring | Octoraro Orphie | Quarryville, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | Early spring | Sir Walter Wally | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 2010 | Early spring | Jimmy the Groundhog | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin |
| 2010 | Early spring | General Beauregard Lee | Lilburn, Georgia |
| 2010 | 6 more weeks of winter | Smith Lake Jake | Graysville, Alabama |
| 2010 | Early spring | Staten Island Chuck | Staten Island |
| 2010 | Early spring | Woodstock Willie | Woodstock, Illinois |
| 2010 | 6 more weeks of winter | Wiarton Willie | Wiarton, Ontario |
| 2010 | 6 more weeks of winter | Punxsutawney Phil | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | Early spring | Uni | Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | 6 more weeks of winter | Poor Richard | York, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | Early spring | Dunkirk Dave | Dunkirk, New York |
| 2010 | Early spring | Buckeye Chuck | Marion, Ohio |
| 2010 | Early spring | Balzac Billy | Balzac, Alberta |
| 2010 | 6 more weeks of winter | Shubenacadie Sam | Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia |
| 2010 | Early spring | French Creek Freddie | French Creek, West Virginia |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Gus | Athens, Georgia |
| 2009 | Early spring | Queen Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 2009 | Early spring | French Creek Freddie | French Creek, West Virginia |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Buckeye Chuck | Marion, Ohio |
| 2009 | Early spring | Malverne Mel | Malverne, New York |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Woodstock Willie | Woodstock, Illinois |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Jimmy the Groundhog | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Octoraro Orphie | Quarryville, Pennsylvania |
| 2009 | Early spring | Staten Island Chuck | Staten Island (New York City) |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Wiarton Willie | Wiarton, Ontario |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Shubenacadie Sam | Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia |
| 2009 | 6 more weeks of winter | Punxsutawney Phil | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania |
| 2009 | Early spring | Dunkirk Dave | Dunkirk, New York |
| 2008 | 6 more weeks of winter | Smith Lake Jake | Graysville, Alabama |
| 2008 | Early spring | Jimmy the Groundhog | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin |
| 2008 | Early spring | Dunkirk Dave | Dunkirk, New York |
| 2008 | Early spring | Balzac Billy | Balzac, Alberta |
| 2008 | 6 more weeks of winter | Sir Walter Wally | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 2008 | Early spring | Wiarton Willie | Wiarton, Ontario |
| 2008 | Early spring | General Beauregard Lee | Lilburn, Georgia |
| 2008 | 6 more weeks of winter | Queen Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 2008 | 6 more weeks of winter | Punxsutawney Phil | Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania |
| 2008 | Early spring | Malverne Mel | Malverne, New York |
| 2008 | Early spring | Staten Island Chuck | Staten Island (New York City) |
| 2008 | Early spring | Buckeye Chuck | Marion, Ohio |
According to Groundhog Day organizers, the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90% of the time. However, a Canadian study for 13 cities in the past 30 to 40 years found that the weather patterns predicted on Groundhog Day were only 37% accurate over that time period-a value not significant compared to the 33% that could occur by chance. According to the StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887, Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions have been correct 39% of the time. The National Climatic Data Center has described the forecasts as "on average, inaccurate" and stated that "The groundhog has shown no talent for predicting the arrival of spring, especially in recent years."
A similar custom is celebrated among Orthodox Christians in Serbia on February 15 (February 2 according to local Julian calendar) during the feast of celebration of Sretenje or The Meeting of the Lord. It is believed that on this day the bear will awake from winter dormancy, and if in this sleepy and confused state it sees (meets) its own shadow, it will get scared and go back to sleep for an additional 40 days, thus prolonging the winter. Thus, if it is sunny on Sretenje, it is the sign that the winter is not over yet. If it is cloudy, it is a good sign that the winter is about to end.
In Germany, June 27 is "Siebenschläfertag" (Seven Sleepers Day). If it rains that day, the rest of summer is supposedly going to be rainy. While it might seem to refer to the "Siebenschläfer" squirrel (Glis Glis), also known as the "edible dormouse", it actually commemorates the Seven Sleepers (the actual commemoration day is July 25).
In the United Kingdom, July 15 is known as St. Swithun's day. It was traditionally believed if it rained on that day, it would rain for the next 40 days and nights.
In Alaska, February 2 is observed as Marmot Day rather than Groundhog Day because few groundhogs exist in the state.
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