10 Strange American Traditions By: Jessika Toothman & Melanie Radzicki McManus | Updated: Aug 10, 2022 Based on the size of the crowd gathered, you might think Phil is some major celebrity. Surviving records show that the idea of weather-predicting animals was introduced during Candlemas festivities held in Germany. The U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information says that the furry rodent has often been wrong with its predictions. February 4, 2023 Introduction: Groundhog Day is a beloved American holiday that is celebrated annually on February 2nd. 02/02/23 AT 7:11 AM EST. She says she hopes it helps kids "see themselves in a positive way.". All rights reserved. Groundhog Day is a popular holiday in the United States, celebrated on February 2nd every year. How the Groundhog Day tradition began, events through history Pedro Snchez praised the team during an audience at the presidential palace [], NEW YORK (AP) The NBA has fined Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden $100,000 for public comments he made about his status with the team. But none are as elaborate as the one that takes place at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania every Feb. 2. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. And when you really stop to think about it, those days were not so very long ago. In fact, celebratory events continue throughout the rest of the week including the Groundhog Ball on Feb. 3. "Even though he's been forecasting since 1887, Phil's track record for the entire country isn't perfect," the NCEI website says. But the Groundhog Day celebration we know today has many similarities to Candlemas Day: The first recorded use of a groundhog as part of this celebration was in 1887 when German immigrants brought their tradition with them to America. Germans who moved to the United States brought this tradition with them. The furthest country he has met people from was Australia. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | We Support Phalanx Family Services & St Agatha Catholic Church, Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Powered by Frackle Media, The Odd History That Makes Up Groundhog Day. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Cortney Moore is an associate lifestyle writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Holiday Published February 1, 2023 8:09am EST The history of Groundhog Day and how the superstitious tradition made it to the US Groundhog Day is celebrated on Feb. 2 in the United. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. . Annual Groundhog Banquet. Legal Statement. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. and why we still - WFAE Groundhog Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. We strive for accuracy and fairness. In what has become a media event, a groundhog designated Punxsutawney Phil is the centre of attention of television weathermen and newspaper photographers. if it . What Happened in 1887 This event became an American tradition in 1887 when a group of groundhog hunters, calling themselves the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, determined that there was one particular groundhog in Punxsutawney who was particularly skilled at predicting the weather. In fact, Groundhog Day is an interesting tradition full of history. The beginning of February, which falls roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, has long been a significant time of the year in many cultures. Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter. All rights reserved. If Punxsutawney Phil doesnt, early spring is expected. How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? Your support makes this possible. On this day the behavior of a groundhog (or woodchuck) is said to predict the weather for the next six weeks. 1. Groundhog Day: History and Facts | HISTORY Soon She'll Start 7th Grade, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? The first official ceremony at Gobblers knob didnt happen until 1986. "So I sort of see the ability to, if you're fortunate enough to have a groundhog living in your backyard, to sort of pay attention to it and enjoy it and learn from it and maybe give up some of your tomatoes or apples. "I strongly suspect that the people that go to Gobbler's Knob are fully aware of the power of science, but at the same time want to hold on to traditions and a deeper vibe," he says. The "Punxsutawney Groundhog Club" was founded in 1886 by a group of groundhog hunters, one of whom was the editor of the town's newspaper and quickly published a proclamation about its local . The Odd History That Makes Up Groundhog Day But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Candles were blessed on Candlemas, which occurred on Feb. 2 and also helped divide the Roman calendar into eighths. Among the Celts, for example, it was the time of Imbolc, observed in anticipation of the birth of farm animals and the planting of crops, and February 2 is also the date of the Christian festival of Candlemas, also called the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. 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Groundhog Day 2023: Origin, Traditions And Accuracy The Celtic tradition of Imbolc, which involves lighting candles at the start of February, goes as far back as the 10th century A.D. On Candlemas Day, clergy would bless candles needed for winter and distribute them to the people, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Clubs website says. PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (NewsNation) The legend of Punxsutawney Phil, the beloved rodent who is thought to be more than 130 years old, is simple. 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. The holiday has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas and has been celebrated in North America . He thinks over time there will be "some happy ground" and that may already be the case in Punxsutawney. Eventually, they added another touch: making sure Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow before he could emerge from his burrow. United States, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. Groundhog Day: A 137-Year-Old American Tradition The first Gobbler's Knob ceremony took place the next year, and the rest is history. They believed, according to the Groundhog Day website, that if the sun appeared and the hedgehog saw his shadow, there would be six more weeks of bad weather, or a Second Winter.. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animalthe hedgehogas a means of predicting weather. Groundhog Day in the United States - timeanddate.com "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.". Punxsutawney Phil's handlers, known as the "Inner Circle," continue to wear dark tuxedos, long tails and top hats even today, he points out. The swamps were drained, the insects exterminated, and by 1840, Punxsutawney had officially turned itself into a European-style village. The males typically come out first and then begin looking for females with whom to mate. Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon is stepping away from the Austin Police Department after 25 years with the department and two years serving as its leader. All Rights Reserved. Britannica does not review the converted text. This year, Phil picked the scroll that said he had seen his shadow, meaning there would be six more weeks of winter. Magazines, National Centers for Environmental Information, She Wasn't Able to Get An Abortion. They both involve eating, drinking, dancing, and parties. BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Spains acting prime minister said it was unacceptable that the Spanish soccer federation president kissed a player on the lips without her consent, as pressure builds on Luis Rubiales to resign for tarnishing the teams Womens World Cup championship. Although promoters of the local festival surrounding Punxsutawney Phil claim that the animals have never been wrong, an examination of the records indicates a correlation of less than 40 percent. Why, then, do we continue looking to creatures for answers on Feb. 2, year after year after year? Daniel Blumstein is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA who studies marmots, the group of 15 species of large ground squirrels that includes groundhogs. Groundhog Day - Wikipedia The groundhogs tail has been short ever since. Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images It appears that over time, the lore shifted to include groundhogs due to Pennsylvanias limited badger population and lack of native hedgehogs. Peter Pan Goes Wrong Comedy of Errors in L.A. Russia-Africa Summit: Putins Quest for Extended Influence, Biden Appeals to Netanyahu Seeking Consensus. That was one of several traditions that German settlers in Pennsylvania brought to the U.S., Harman says, along with Christmas trees and the Easter bunny. Plus, human meteorologists have far more advanced methods for predicting the weather now than they did when Phil first got the gig in 1887. Groundhogs are rodents, and they live in burrows. / AP. "So I sort of see the ability to, if you're fortunate enough to have a groundhog living in your backyard, to sort of pay attention to it and enjoy it and learn from it and maybe give up some of your tomatoes or apples.". On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 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 2020, he did not see his shadow but then saw it again both in 2021 and in 2022. To celebrate the event, people gather at locations where a groundhog is typically found, such as in a hole in the ground or at a nature preserve. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. While this is a folklore many have heard since they were a kid, many arent familiar with how Groundhog Day became such a favored tradition. "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.". ", Spectators entertain the crowd while waiting for Punxsutawney Phil on Thursday morning. What is a tradition on a Groundhog Day? - Remodel or Move On this day, according to tradition, people watch the behavior of a groundhog (also called a woodchuck) to find out what the weather will be like for the next six weeks. Since the holiday has evolved over time, Groundhog Day activities dont just end after Phil makes his predictions. People look to the groundhog to predict how much longer winter will last. However, the holiday is a time for people to have fun in the middle of winter. 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. Club members work "to protect and perpetuate the legend of the great weather-predicting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil," according to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Clubs website. While the day has many symbolic meanings to the Christian faith, it may also be an adaptation of Februalia, a holiday celebrated prior to the Christianization of the Roman empire. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. They go into hibernation in the late fall; during this time, their body temperatures drop significantly, their heartbeats slow from 80 to five beats per minute and they can lose 30 percent of their body fat. "Any place that has a groundhog these days is trying to get some [cred] by it," Blumstein says. It is believed that on this day, a groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, emerges from its burrow to determine the arrival of spring. But that alone doesn't make them reliable forecasters. During the Middle Ages there arose the belief that animals such as the badger and the bear interrupted their hibernation to appear on this day. Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2nd every year in the United States and Canada. These animals included badgers, hedgehogs, bears and foxes. It is believed that six more weeks of winter are in store for North America if Phil can spot its shadow. 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). / Associated Press. With Groundhog Day's popularity growing over time, other U.S. cities have adopted the celebration and have their own predictions. GROUNDHOG DAY QUIZ! The superstitious observance began in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where Punxsutawney Phil got his name and start as a rodent meteorologist. Groundhog Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada on Feb. 2 every year. Donning top hats and tuxedos, the group waits . Groundhog Day: A popular North American tradition explained The legend states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May," the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club said. And in case youre curious, it is a rodent belonging to the squirrel family. []. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. On Groundhog Day, members of Punxsutawney Phils Inner Circle summon him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he has seen his shadow. / Getty Images. "And the first celebration that we know of was in the 1880s," Harman says. 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.". "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.". [], ATLANTA (AP) PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed the same level of confidence Tuesday that he did last year at the season-ending Tour Championship. Many of Pennsylvanias early settlers were German, and they brought this tradition with them, switching the hedgehog for the groundhog, which could be more easily found in their new home, according to the Punxsutawney site. "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. According to traditions, a groundhog, a furry rodent, predicts the weather conditions in North America for the next six weeks. Ten years later, the population had swelled to just above 250 people. Today, tens of thousands of people converge on Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney each February 2 to witness Phils prediction. Superstition held that if the day was sunny and clear, people could expect a long, rough winter, but if the sky was cloudy, warm weather would arrive soon. 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. Groundhog Day is one of the most eagerly anticipated traditions observed in North America. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Daniel Blumstein is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA who studies marmots, the group of 15 species of large ground squirrels that includes groundhogs. In this case, its whether or not there will be another winter. But the winter holiday has a long history rooted in everything from early Christian traditions in Europe to 19th century American newspapers. The "Punxsutawney Groundhog Club" was founded in 1886 by a group of groundhog hunters, one of whom was the editor of the town's newspaper and quickly published a proclamation about its local weather prognosticating groundhog (though Phil didn't get his name until 1961). 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. Groundhogs Fact Sheet | Blog | Nature | PBS Imbolc means in the belly of the mother, in case you wondered. Gobbler's Knob Got Talent That's thanks in large part to the popularity of the eponymous movie and the ability to live-stream the festivities. America is changing fast! Statistics say not so much: Phil's accuracy rate is about 40% over the last decade. Groundhog Day: An Age-Old Tradition Rooted in Fun and Folklore He thinks over time there will be "some happy ground" and that may already be the case in Punxsutawney. What Groundhog Day is like today. History of Groundhog Day more complex than you may think - The Hill The first known record of Groundhog Day, which originated from a German legend, was in a local paper in 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The first Gobbler's Knob ceremony took place the next year, and the rest is history. Philliber, who goes by the nickname Iceman, explained that people come from all over the place, including an estimated 26-30 countries and 46 states. He has a theory for why Groundhog Day became, and remains, so popular in the U.S. "Throughout history, whenever there has been a real strong emphasis on science, its counterpart of intuition, instinct, emotion, imagination the right side of our brain pushes back a little bit," Harman says, explaining that Groundhog Day took off right around the time of the industrial revolution. However, it wasnt until the folklore was introduced to the Germans that the celebration included an animal of any kind, the club explained.
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