Groundhog Day, 10 Interesting Facts You Must Know

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Groundhog day

Groundhog Day is a traditional holiday which is celebrated on 2nd February every year. According to the folklore, the groundhog predicts about whether the spring season will come early or the winter will persist. And, it purely depends on the groundhog’s shadow, according to the said tradition. So, today as we celebrate Groundhog Day, we bring to you 10 interesting facts which you must know about it.

Fascinating facts about Groundhog Day!

1. What exactly Groundhog Day is?

The modern customs of this holiday involve celebrations, wherein festivals are held early morning to watch the groundhog, which emerges from its burrow. And, seeing its shadow, the groundhog predicts about the winter and the spring season.

2. What is a ‘groundhog?’

Probably, a question must be ticking in your mind, ‘What or who is a groundhog?’ So the answer to this question is, ‘A groundhog is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, which belongs to the group of ‘marmots’, large ground squirrels. They are also known as a woodchuck or a whistlepig.

3. How groundhog actually predicts about the seasons?

According to folklore, when a groundhog emerges from its burrow and if the outside atmosphere is cloudy; then the spring season will come early. On the other hand, if it is sunny; then the groundhog will see its shadow, and will probably retreat back into its den, symbolizing that the winter weather will persist for another six weeks.

Groundhog day

4. When it started?

The first documented American reference to this day can be found in a diary entry of a storekeeper, James Morris dated 4th February, 1841, of Morgantown, Pennsylvania. And, the celebration began as a Pennsylvania German custom in the south-eastern and central Pennsylvania in 18th and 19th centuries. But, there exists alternative origin theories too.

5. When and how it started in the United States?

Groundhog Day was first adopted in the United States in the year 1887. Clymer H. Freas was the editor of a local paper, Punxsutawney Spirit at that time. He was the one who began promoting the city’s groundhog as the official ‘Groundhog Day meteorologist’.

6. Largest Groundhog Day celebration!

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Here over 40,000 crowds have gathered to celebrate this holiday since at least 1886.

Groundhog day

7. The most popular groundhogs!

The most popularly known of these groundhogs are Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie, Staten Island Chuck and Jimmy the Groundhog. These all are kept as part of Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; Wiarton, Ontario; Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and Staten Island, NYC.

8. Predictions of various groundhogs for 2016!

Groundhogs Punxsutawney Phil, Chuckles and Shubenacadie Sam have predicted ‘early spring’. While the groundhogs Buckeye Chuck and Dunkirk Dave have predicted ‘six more weeks of winter’.

9. The 1993 movie, Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day gained wide recognition and popularity and received widespread attention as a result of the 1993 movie, ‘Groundhog Day’. The main character of this film is forced to relive the day over and over again till the time he can learn to give up selfishness and become a better person in his life.

Groundhog day

10. Similar customs!

A similar custom is celebrated among the Orthodox Christians in Serbia on 15th February. It is done during the feast of celebration of ‘Sretenje’ or ‘The Meeting of the Lord’. In Germany, 27th June is “Siebenschläfertag” (Seven Sleepers Day). While in the United Kingdom, 15th July is known as St. Swithun’s day.

Also, according to the Groundhog Club, Phil after making the prediction usually speaks to the Club President in the ‘Groundhogese’, which can be understood by only the current president. And, then his prediction is being translated for the entire world!

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