The origin of Groundhog day
In this factual article, Abigail Woody will tell us about the origin of Groundhog Day.
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The origin of groundhog day
The origin of groundhog day
By Abigail Woody
By Abigail Woody
Pictured: Groundhog Day 2019, Syracuse.com
Groundhog Day is the day where Punxsutawney Phil, who is the famous groundhog, makes predictions regarding whether or not it will be winter for six more weeks, or if we will have an early spring. The groundhog comes out of its burrow on Feb. 2 each year. If he sees his shadow, it will be winter for six more weeks, but if he does not see his shadow, it will be spring sooner. According to This Day in History, thousands of people come together to witness the prediction of Groundhog Day.
Most people know what Groundhog Day is, but they do not always know the origin, and/or they do not know how it first started. According to This Day in History, Groundhog Day first started on Feb. 2, 1887. It was an ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas. The tradition started when the clergy would bless and distribute the candles during winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. This then became an annual holiday.
Pictured: Groundhog Day 2020, York Daily Record
Pictured: In remembrance of the first Groundhog Day, HISTORY.com
The tradition of Groundhog Day was passed on to the Germans. It was then when the Germans decided to expand it, and start using animals. The Germans selected the hedgehog as their indicator. The holiday was switched over to America, where the German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition. The honored animal ended up switching from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in Pennsylvania. The first American Groundhog holiday was first celebrated at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
The tradition of Groundhog Day, according to Time magazine, has been held by 13 groundhogs, each “named” Punxsutawney Phil, masked as the same groundhog that we see every year come out of his burrow. According to Parade, when it is not Groundhog Day, he lives in a terrarium called Phil’s Burrow inside the Punxsutawney library. He is in that library 364 days out of the year. The only day he is out of the library is on Groundhog Day, when he shows whether it will be spring or winter that year.
Pictured: Stock photo of a groundhog, Parade.com
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