Groundhog Day! - 2024

Groundhog Day is an annual event in America and Canada that is celebrated on February 2nd. The superstition goes that a groundhog emerges from his burrow and either sees his shadow or retreats back into his den, and winter will be extended six more weeks; if he does not see his shadow, spring will be early. The groundhog that tells us our fate is Punxsutawney Phil, who lives in Punxsutawney, PA, and in Canada, Shubenacadie Sam, who lives in Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia. 

Groundhog Day originally started as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day’s roots go back to a Christian holiday called Candlemas Day, which was started by German immigrants in 1887. Meaning, there have been 137 groundhog days! And yet there has only been one Punxsutawney Phil; all other groundhogs are said to be “imposters.” It’s been calculated that Phil is correct 39% of the time since 1880. 2021 Phil was half right in his prediction of more winter, as 2021 had a colder-than-average February and a warmer-than-average March. 

This year, Phil predicted more spring! An early Spring prediction is rare, as Phil has predicted 108 continued winters and only 21 early springs since 1880.