Groundhogs Day

It’s Groundhog’s Day again, and according to folklore if it’s cloudy when the groundhog peaks from its burrow, it will head from its winter home signifying winter will soon be coming to an end. On the opposite end of the spectrum if sunny weather is what the groundhog sees when venturing out, then this means winter will last another long six weeks.

Groundhogs day is a day celebrated in the United States and Canada on the second day of February. This holiday tradition began as a Pennsylvania German custom, in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Its ancient origins are said to be based on European weather lore, where you can find a badger or a bear in place of the modern animal, the groundhog.

This practice of foretelling the future weather patterns can be found recorded and dated as far back as February 1841, in a dairy entry of a storekeeper who lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania:

Last Tuesday the second, 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 week nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

Many towns throughout North America have their own individual winter predicting groundhogs. Probably the most well-known groundhog being, Punxsutawney Phil, of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. There are other groundhogs as well with names such as, Staten Island Chuck and Wiarton Willie of Wiarton, Ontario.

It is amazing the accuracy of the rodent and his forecasts. Proponents of Groundhog’s Day state the accuracy of the groundhog stands between 75% and 95% in favor Mr. Phil.

The groundhog in popular culture has become quite famous to say the least. In 1993 the comedy movie Groundhogs Day, starring very funny American comedian and actor Bill Murray, gave us all a laugh. In fact the movie was set to take place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania as well. Gaming stations have released games that relate to the groundhog such as, Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog and Nintendo’s Game Cube has Animal Cross ing, in which Groundhog’s Day is celebrated on February 2^nd as well.

There are similarly celebrated holiday’s as that of in North America, regions through out the United States and in other countries. In Alaska Marmot day is celebrated on the 2^nd of February, this is due to the groundhog population being few and far between.

This morning, February 2, 2011,  Punxsutawney Phil made his appearance at his 125^th annual weather forecast, to reveal that he did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring.