Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day, also known as Murmeltiertag (Pennsylvania German) is a day celebrated on February 2nd. According to German tradition on Candlemas Day, if it is cloudy when a groundhog, hedgehog, badger, or sacred bear 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.
It also has similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar on February 1st, which and also involves weather predictions. The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2nd, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Groundhog celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was immortalized in the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" staring Bill Murray.
It also has similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar on February 1st, which and also involves weather predictions. The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2nd, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Groundhog celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was immortalized in the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" staring Bill Murray.
The modern celebrations includes social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. Most of these formal celebrations have their own designated weather predicting Groundhog...
Asheville, North Carolina (Nibbles)
Athens, Georgia (Gus)
Aurora, Colorado (Stormy Marmot)
Balzac, Alberta (Balzac Billy)
Brookfield, Illinois (Tumbleweed)
Charlotte, North Carolina (Queen Charlotte)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (Chattanooga Chuck)
Chimney Rock, North Carolina (Grady the Groundhog)
Cumberland, Maryland (Western Maryland Murray)
Dover, Pennsylvania (Dover Doug)
Dunkirk, New York (Dunkirk Dave)
French Creek, West Virginia (French Creek Freddie)
Garner, North Carolina (Mortimer)
Graysville, Alabama (Smith Lake Jake)
Hastings, Nebraska (Sir Thomas Hastings)
Holtsville, New York (Holtsville Hal)
Howell, Michigan (Woody)
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Mount Joy Minnie)
Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania (Lawrenceville Lucy)
Lilburn, Georgia (General Beauregard Lee)
Malverne, New York (Malverne Mel)
Manchester, Connecticut (Chuckles)
Marion, Ohio (Buckeye Chuck)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Wynter the Groundhog)
Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania (Susquehanna Sherman)
Myerstown, Pennsylvania (Uni)
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Punxsutawney Phil)
Quarryville, Pennsylvania (Octoraro Orphie)
Raleigh, North Carolina (Sir Walter Wally)
Reading, Pennsylvania (Patty Pagoda)
Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia (Shubenacadie Sam)
Staten Island, New York (Staten Island Chuck)
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (Jimmy the Groundhog)
Sutton, Ontario (Sutton Sammy)
Val d'Espoir, Quebec (Fred)
Wiarton, Ontario (Wiarton Willie)
Woodstock, Illinois (Woodstock Willie)
York, Pennsylvania (Poor Richard)
Asheville, North Carolina (Nibbles)
Athens, Georgia (Gus)
Aurora, Colorado (Stormy Marmot)
Balzac, Alberta (Balzac Billy)
Brookfield, Illinois (Tumbleweed)
Charlotte, North Carolina (Queen Charlotte)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (Chattanooga Chuck)
Chimney Rock, North Carolina (Grady the Groundhog)
Cumberland, Maryland (Western Maryland Murray)
Dover, Pennsylvania (Dover Doug)
Dunkirk, New York (Dunkirk Dave)
French Creek, West Virginia (French Creek Freddie)
Garner, North Carolina (Mortimer)
Graysville, Alabama (Smith Lake Jake)
Hastings, Nebraska (Sir Thomas Hastings)
Holtsville, New York (Holtsville Hal)
Howell, Michigan (Woody)
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Mount Joy Minnie)
Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania (Lawrenceville Lucy)
Lilburn, Georgia (General Beauregard Lee)
Malverne, New York (Malverne Mel)
Manchester, Connecticut (Chuckles)
Marion, Ohio (Buckeye Chuck)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Wynter the Groundhog)
Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania (Susquehanna Sherman)
Myerstown, Pennsylvania (Uni)
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Punxsutawney Phil)
Quarryville, Pennsylvania (Octoraro Orphie)
Raleigh, North Carolina (Sir Walter Wally)
Reading, Pennsylvania (Patty Pagoda)
Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia (Shubenacadie Sam)
Staten Island, New York (Staten Island Chuck)
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (Jimmy the Groundhog)
Sutton, Ontario (Sutton Sammy)
Val d'Espoir, Quebec (Fred)
Wiarton, Ontario (Wiarton Willie)
Woodstock, Illinois (Woodstock Willie)
York, Pennsylvania (Poor Richard)
Some extra notes...
Groundhogs are excellent diggers. On average, a grounghog will remove about 700 pounds of soil to make a burrow. The burrow usually has several rooms and extends for 25 to 35 feet with up to three entrances. The average groundhog weighs between four to nine pounds but some have been known to reach up to 30 pounds.
Groundhogs hibernate for three to six months each year and, prior to going underground, will accumulate a half inch layer of fat to hold them over. A groundhog will eat about one third of its body weight per day in late summer. While hibernating, a groundhog’s body temperature can drop from about 99 degrees to as low as 37. The heart rate of a hibernating groundhog slows from about 80 beats per minute to five.
Groundhogs are excellent diggers. On average, a grounghog will remove about 700 pounds of soil to make a burrow. The burrow usually has several rooms and extends for 25 to 35 feet with up to three entrances. The average groundhog weighs between four to nine pounds but some have been known to reach up to 30 pounds.
Groundhogs hibernate for three to six months each year and, prior to going underground, will accumulate a half inch layer of fat to hold them over. A groundhog will eat about one third of its body weight per day in late summer. While hibernating, a groundhog’s body temperature can drop from about 99 degrees to as low as 37. The heart rate of a hibernating groundhog slows from about 80 beats per minute to five.
