Groundhog Day

For the movie of the same name see: Groundhog Day (film)

Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. In 2006, it was celebrated on a Thursday.

In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.

History

Around the fifth century, the European Celts believed that animals had certain "supernatural" powers on special days that were half-way between the Winter Equinox and Spring Solstice (forty days after Christmas and forty days before Easter). Folklore from Germany and France indicated that when groundhogs and bears came out of their winter dens too early, they were frightened by their shadow and retreated back inside for four to six weeks.

When Christianity came into being, the formerly pagan observance was called "Candlemas Day." In America, Candlemas Day became "Groundhog Day" to singularly honor the whiskery waddler. The current tradition calls for "Spring Just Around the Corner" if the groundhog does not see his shadow. However, look for "At Least Six More Weeks of Winter" if the groundhog spies his pudgy image!

Some assert that the tradition of Groundhog Day originated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1887, however the earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College: February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."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 the: . U.S. the tradition derives from a Scottish poem As the light grows longer The cold grows stronger "If Candlemas be fair and bright Winter will have another flight If Candlemas be cloud and rain Winter will be gone and not come again" A farmer should on Candlemas day Have half his corn and half his hay On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop You can be sure of a good pea crop

This tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day [1] and Hedgehog Day. Although the date is often referred to as one of the four quarter days of the year (the midpoints between the spring and fall equinoxes and the summer and winter solstice), it is in fact one of the cross-quarter days [2] and has roots in the pagan festival of Imbolc and the Celtic festival of Brigid celebrating the fertility which follows the growing light of Spring.

Indeed, bright, clear weather in a North American winter is often associated with very cold temperatures.

In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere the official first day of Spring is about six weeks after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This was exactly six weeks after February 2. Assuming that the equinox marked the first day of spring in certain medieval cultures, as it does now in western countries, Groundhog Day occurred exactly six weeks before spring. Therefore, if the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day there would be six more weeks of winter. If he didn't, there would be 42 more days of winter. In other words, the Groundhog Day/Hedgehog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor.

Famous prognosticating groundhogs

Punxsutawney Phil found in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Spanish Joe found in Spanish, Ontario
Staten Island Chuck found in New York City, New York
Wiarton Willie found in Wiarton, Ontario

Profile of many other prognosticating groundhogs

Past predictions

2006
- 6 more weeks of winter — Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck
- Early Spring — Spanish Joe, Wiarton Willie, General Beauregard Lee, Staten Island Chuck, Shubenacadie Sam, Jimmy the Groundhog, Malverne Mel, French Creek Freddie
2005
- 6 more weeks of winter — Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam, Spanish Joe, Octorara Orphie, Malverne Mel
- Early Spring — Wiarton Willie, Jimmy the Groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, Balzac Billy, Staten Island Chuck

2004
- 6 more weeks of winter — Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie, Spanish Joe, Balzac Billy, General Beauregard Lee, Malverne Mel

In fiction

The movie Groundhog Day takes place in Punxsutawney on this day. The main character (played by Bill Murray) is forced to relive the day over and over again until he can learn to forgive himself and love another unselfishly.

Starting on January 9, 2006, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office presents installments of the Groundhog 202 film series, a Groundhog Day promotion that plays off of The Shining. The film shows what happens when the Groundhog, stuck inside for 364 days, goes mad with Cabin Fever.

External links