The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It was the brainchild of local newspaper editor Clymer Freas, who sold a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters—known collectively as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club—on the idea.

Why did Groundhog Day start?

It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

What is the legend of Groundhog Day?

According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring.

How did the legend of Punxsutawney Phil start?

In Germany, the tradition evolved into a myth that if the sun came out on Candlemas, a hedgehog would cast its shadow, predicting snow all the way into May. When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, they transferred the tradition onto local fauna, replacing hedgehogs with groundhogs.

Is Punxsutawney Phil dead?

No, the rumours of Punxsutawney Phil's death aren't true – he is thankfully very much alive and still predicting! In fact, today he made his prediction for the year ahead.

The Real Story of Groundhog Day

25 related questions found

How long can groundhogs live?

Lifespan: In the wild, groundhogs can live up to six years with two or three being average. In captivity, groundhogs reportedly live up to 14 years.

What is Punxsutawney Phil's wife's name?

Does Phil have a wife? Yes, her name is Phyliss. She doesn't receive the Elixir of Life so she will not live forever like Phil.

Is Groundhog Day a folklore?

According to folklore, the groundhog is seen as a sort of weather predictor on February 2 each year. Tradition tells us that, if the day is a sunny one and the groundhog sees his shadow, he will be scared and will retreat back into his burrow. This means that winter weather will last at least another six weeks.

When did Groundhog Day originate?

The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It was the brainchild of local newspaper editor Clymer Freas, who sold a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters—known collectively as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club—on the idea.

What is the moral of Groundhog Day?

The message of "Groundhog Day" is that individuals with free will can choose goodness. It may take time, but it's the only path to redemption. Murray plays Phil Connors, a self-absorbed TV weatherman caught in a time loop.

Are groundhogs nocturnal?

Groundhog Behavior

Activity: Groundhogs are diurnal (active during the day) from spring to fall. Most activity occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, at which groundhogs emerge from their burrows to gather food.

Where do groundhogs live?

Habitat. Groundhogs are widely distributed across North America, ranging as far south as Alabama and as far north as Alaska. They build extensive burrows—anywhere from eight to 66 feet long—with multiple entrances and rooms, including bathrooms. Some groundhogs even have more than one burrow.

Who was the newspaper editor responsible for Groundhog Day?

It was 1887 when Clymer H. Freas, a newspaper editor, first declared Punxsutawney Phil to be the nation's foremost weather-predicting groundhog. Since then, Groundhog Day has developed into a widely-recognized tradition in the United States and Canada.

Where does Groundhog Day movie take place?

It stars Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott. Murray portrays Phil Connors, a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2nd repeatedly.

What is the name of Canada's official groundhog?

Wiarton Willie is the name given to a Canadian groundhog who lives in the community of Wiarton in Bruce County, Ontario. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival.

Is Groundhog Day a US thing?

Groundhog Day falls on February 2 in the United States, coinciding with Candlemas. It is a part of popular culture among many Americans and it centers on the idea of the groundhog coming out of its home to “predict” the weather.

How many days is the movie Groundhog Day?

Well a film blog has worked it out for you: 33 years and 350 days. WhatCulture.com worked out just how long Phil Connors spent in limbo back in 2013 to mark the film's 20th anniversary. Amazingly, the torturous time equates to repeating the same day 12,395 times.

Who played opposite Andy Karl in Groundhog Day?

The musical is based on the 1993 film Groundhog Day. The film itself starred Bill Murray as Phil Connors and Andie MacDowell as Rita Hanson and was produced on a budget of $14.6 million, earning over $70 million in domestic box office receipts.

Did the groundhog died?

Chuck squirmed up his gloved mitts, evaded the handler and fell to the ground. Months later, in September 2014, it was revealed that the groundhog died of “acute internal injuries” a week after he was dropped by the mayor. ... Zoo officials changed Groundhog Day activities a year later in 2015.

Can groundhogs aggressive?

Worst comes to worst, you definitely don't want to try and handle them on your own since some groundhogs can be pretty aggressive animals. ... Even worse, groundhogs have been known to carry rabies, which can make them even more aggressive and dangerous. So maybe don't keep them near your face.

Are groundhogs intelligent?

Groundhogs may look like clumsy, dumb creatures. They are actually quite smart. They know when something looks or smells funny. Late winter and early spring are the best times to find burrows.

Can you eat groundhog?

"The simple fact is, groundhogs are eminently edible and delicious," writes Everett J. Castro in Mother Earth News. "Like rabbits and squirrels (both of which are valued food animals), whistle-pigs are vegetarians. Thus, their meat, when properly prepared, is quite tasty and tender."

How many babies do groundhogs have at once?

Pregnancy goes by fast for them. Groundhog mating season is in the early spring and, after only a month-long pregnancy, mother groundhogs typically give birth to a litter of two to six blind, hairless babies. Young groundhogs are called kits, pups, or sometimes chucklings.