Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Germans who moved to the United States brought this tradition with them. RGV comedian Sonia Trevio discusses comedy in South Texas ahead of Creekside Sessions show, These poems by Latin American women reflect a multilingual region, Local Ukrainian community honors two musicians killed in Russian airstrike, Winning 2024 Fiesta Flambeau poster design celebrates 'San Anto' uniqueness. "Maybe it's a good thing for marmots in that you have a longer growing season, but then every day you're active, you also face some risk of predation," he explains. Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund'sau dk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day) is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2.It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter . In February, male groundhogs emerge from their burrows to look for a mate (not to predict the weather) before going underground again. These animals included badgers, hedgehogs, bears and foxes. Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. So people actually spend the night in a 30-mile radius of the community. 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 Military Park. Groundhogs are dangerous when provoked; they have sharp teeth that can bite through flesh with ease. However, the holiday is a time for people to have fun in the middle of winter. His department always has a Groundhog Day party, even in perennially-sunny Los Angeles but he says you don't have to be a "marmot enthusiast" (as he describes himself) to get something out of the day. Groundhog Day in the United States. The ceremony itself which returned to the stage last year after a COVID-19 hiatus features dancers, music, speeches and visitors from around the world. All Rights Reserved. The idea of Groundhog Day comes from an ancient Christian celebration known as Candlemas Day, which marked the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. 2. So he's able to confirm that while Groundhog Day is pegged to Candlemas, it also coincides with the time of year when groundhogs in the northeastern U.S. start to emerge. The Germans then expanded on this tradition, introducing the hedgehog to the mix. CNN: The bizarre history of Groundhog Day The next year, everything fell into place. It appears that over time, the lore shifted to include groundhogs due to Pennsylvanias limited badger population and lack of native hedgehogs. "But the idea of watching animals and whether they see their shadow out of hibernation had been going on before that, it just hadn't turned into a public festival until later in the 19th century.". This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Groundhog-Day, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Groundhog Day in Canada, Groundhog Day - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Groundhog Day - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Take, for example: Pisgah Pete, a white squirrel in North Carolina, Connecticut's Scramble the Duck and a beaver at the Oregon Zoo named "Stumpton Fil.". Choose a language from the menu above to view a computer-translated version of this page. "Whether or not there is a predictability of whether it's sunny on Groundhog Day and whether spring comes early or later, I don't know," Blumstein says, adding that Phil's predictions involve "him whispering into people who are wearing stovepipe hats and in front of a drunk crowd, so you can't really trust that.". "Even though he's been forecasting since 1887, Phil's track record for the entire country isn't perfect," the NCEI website says. Write to Abigail Abrams at abigail.abrams@time.com. On Feb. 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a groundhog came out of its hole at Gobblers Knob and began a tradition that has been going strong for the past 136 years (even though the reasons why have mostly been forgotten). Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animalthe hedgehogas a means of predicting weather. Every February 2, the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club trek to Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney Phil's official home just outside of town. Groundhog Day 2022: what is it, what day is it on - and meaning explained 10 Strange American Traditions | HowStuffWorks Even though Punxsutawney Phil's weather prediction is the one people gather to see, the groundhog's prediction is made ahead of the big moment by the group on Gobbler's Knob, a location very close to Punxsutawney, just around 65 miles away from Pittsburgh. According to traditions, a groundhog, a furry rodent, predicts the weather conditions in . While Groundhog Day is steeped in legend, also remember it is about the changing seasons. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "Whether or not there is a predictability of whether it's sunny on Groundhog Day and whether spring comes early or later, I don't know," Blumstein says, adding that Phil's predictions involve "him whispering into people who are wearing stovepipe hats and in front of a drunk crowd, so you can't really trust that.". Many of them moved to Pennsylvania, which has no badgers but many groundhogs. Plus, if it is sunny out, marmots are theoretically big enough to cast a shadow by standing up. Groundhog Day has its roots in ancient midwinter ceremonies. Both have something to do with the weather. Will My Beloved State of Nevada Display Wisdom or Ignorance in November 2024? America is changing fast! The difference was the topic. Groundhog Day - Wikipedia 3. []. (More on Phil below.) Copyright 2023 NPR. Its interesting how it has changed over time but we still celebrate it today. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. A crowd of upwards of 20,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den. All Rights Reserved. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. However, it wasn't until the folklore was . In 2020, he did not see his shadow but then saw it again both in 2021 and in 2022. "Groundhog Day is really a holiday about sex," he adds. In folk religion, various traditions and superstitions continue to be linked with the holiday, although this was discouraged by the Protestant Reformers in the 16th century. Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. The Nationals said Tuesday, before opening a series at the New York Yankees at night, that Martinez is getting what they called a multiyear extension without revealing for how long. Groundhog Day is on February 2, so it makes sense that this would be the date when people started to take notice of Phil. The Origins of Groundhog Day. On that feast day, clergy would bless and distribute all the candles needed for winter and over time the focus of the day became increasingly about predicting how long winter would last. In this article, we will delve deeper into the enigma of Groundhog Day and see if we can unveil the mystery behind it. "I see a shadow on my stage, and so no matter how you measure, it's six more weeks of winter weather," a handler read off the scroll he said Phil had chosen. Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The furthest country he has met people from was Australia. The groundhog's "Inner Circle" dresses the same today. As one English folk song put it: "If Candlemas be fair and bright / Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain / Go Winter, and come not again.". The tradition states that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on Feb. 2 sees its shadow due to a clear sky, it will . Take, for example: Pisgah Pete, a white squirrel in North Carolina, Connecticut's Scramble the Duck and a beaver at the Oregon Zoo named "Stumpton Fil. February 2. Groundhog Day 2023: Origin, Traditions And Accuracy Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. Groundhogs also known as woodchucks are one of the Keystone States "most widely distributed mammals," according to the Penn State Extension College of Agricultural Sciences. Fourpossible reasonswomen are more stressed in college than Maui official explains why sirens werent activated during wildfire Disneylands attendance and visitor spending gains undermined by Rear seats riskier than front seats for injury, research shows. Generations later, in the U.S., kids taught one another the tongue twister, How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? (Many kids may not know that a woodchuck is a groundhog!) This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Magazines, Digital The origins of this curious holiday date back hundreds of years to when the country was first settled by German immigrants, who brought with them their beliefs and traditions. Groundhog Day is one of the most eagerly anticipated traditions observed in North America. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. There's still a lot we can learn from Groundhog Day, both about our climate and our culture, several experts told NPR. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He says those massive societal and technological changes spurred a desire to return to what people imagined were simpler times, in the form of things like literary romanticism and gothic revival architecture. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? The German tradition of Badger Day (Dachstag) is based on the belief that badgers see their shadows while coming out of hibernation on Feb. 2, predicting that winter will last longer. Enter a date in the format M/D (e.g., 1/1), https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-groundhog-day, Viet Cong officer is shot in the head; iconic photo taken, Grand Central Terminal opens in New York City, Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman dies of drug overdose at age 46, First U.S. Air Force plane crashes in South Vietnam, Russians establish Fort Ross in California, Sid Vicious dies of a drug overdose in New York City, Director William Desmond Taylor is found murdered, United States rejects proposal for conference with Stalin. It was in the states that the settlers chose a groundhog as the holiday legend. It's not only groundhogs that are getting in on the fun. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrated for the first time at Gobblers Knob, according to History.com, and the newspapers editor declared that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was Americas official weather-forecasting groundhog. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club hosts a three-day celebration featuring entertainment and activities. Introduction Groundhog Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. On this day the behavior of a groundhog (or woodchuck) is said to predict the weather for the next six weeks. However, the country experienced "above-average temperatures for both February and March 2020," according to scientists at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. 02/02/23 AT 7:11 AM EST. 5. A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar. Tradition says that North America will get six more weeks of winter if Phil sees his shadow and an early spring if he does not. Canada has a number of groundhogs that serve as weather prognosticators, perhaps the best known being those portraying Wiarton Willie, a white-furred, pink-eyed creature that has appeared on the Bruce Peninsula, northwest of Toronto, since 1956. Groundhog Day | The Facts App GPB is committedto bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. The day marked the beginning of spring and was a feast of purification for farmers. In this case, its whether or not there will be another winter. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Groundhog Day is a tradition that takes place every year on February 2.Prompted by members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Clubwho dress up in top hats and tuxedos for the ceremonyPunxsutawney Phil emerges from a special burrow in Gobbler's Knob, a rural park nestled just outside of the small town of Punxsutawney. So there also could be evolutionary responses to this, and what we're really looking at is the evolutionary response to changes over time and the sort of within-generational plasticity, flexibility, if you will.". The day is also about the shadow of the oldest known indigenous tribe in the United States and fusing ancient legends, including the Delaware Nations great-groundhog Wojak, with Christian and Celtic traditions of Candlemas that trace back to at least the fourth century. Holding onto culture is important, as is embracing new culture, Harman says. Groundhog Day - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help But alas, he's just a groundhog who's about to predict the weather. However, if it does not see its shadow, the weather will be mild and springlike. On Thursday morning, thousands of early risers either tuned in or bundled up to watch Punxsutawney Phil emerge from a tree stump and predict the weather. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 'Fox & Friends' watches as Punxsutawney Phil makes his Groundhog Day appearance from Pennsylvania. But dont let their cute name fool you. Germany went a step further by making animals specifically hedgehogs part of the proceedings. In fact, Groundhog Day is an interesting tradition full of history. If a hedgehog saw its shadow, there would be a "second winter" or six more weeks of bad weather, according to German lore. What is the meaning of Groundhog Day? | WGN-TV The males typically come out first and then begin looking for females with whom to mate. Statistics say not so much: Phil's accuracy rate is about 40% over the last decade. It brings a lot of people to the community, Butch Philliber, a dignitary of the Inner Circle, said. "I hope that people have some greater appreciation of marmots and nature, and I hope that people have a chuckle over the idea that it's the middle of the winter and we're hoping that a rodent will tell us what the future is," says Blumstein. Phil was kept in a cage and fed steak, eggs, and water until he died in 2009 at age 21a pretty good lifespan for a groundhog. The first official ceremony at Gobblers knob didnt happen until 1986.
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