On February 2nd, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil will once again predict the weather, a tradition that dates back to the 1880s.
Everyone knows the old saying: if a groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd, it means six more weeks of winter are coming, and he goes back inside. If he doesn’t see his shadow, spring and warmer temperatures are coming soon.
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the hub of America’s Groundhog Day festivities, as the town first celebrated the tradition in 1886, with the first official event held in 1887. Punxsutawney Phil, the town’s official groundhog, carries on the tradition each year, and his prediction is always national news.
The origins of Groundhog Day, however, date back to the 19th century, when German immigrants in Pennsylvania celebrated a midseason holiday called Imbolc. It is also tied to the Christian festival Candlemas, the “Festival of Light,” held on February 2nd.
For Candlemas, badgers were traditionally called upon to predict the weather, but immigrants in Pennsylvania couldn’t find any badgers. Instead, groundhogs were plentiful in the area, so the tradition was adapted and Groundhog Day was born.
This fun video provides more historical facts about Groundhog Day:
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