The Forgotten Holiday: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a very historic holiday that is incredibly important but is almost always forgotten. If you don’t already know what Groundhog Day is, here is a little bit of information to jog your memory. Each year a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil from Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania decides the fate of the weather for the next six weeks. If Phil doesn't see his shadow it will be an early spring, if he does it will be six more weeks of winter. 

Groundhog Day falls on the 2nd of February each year which actually marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Groundhog Day has been celebrated for 147 years. The tradition that began in 1887 hails from German immigrants who wanted to honor a Christian celebration called Candlemas on that day.  They also wondered if it would be a short winter. They decided to let the badgers decide the fate of the weather based on whether they saw their shadows. The historic day’s traditions were forever sealed in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day.

Fun fact: Around 30,000 people go to Punxsutawney, PA to see Phil each year.

Phil’s predictions aren’t always true though; researchers claim that Phil’s predictions are only true half the time.  Meanwhile, Staten Island Chuck, Staten Island's version of Punxetauny Phil, has an 80% correct prediction rate. A for this year?  Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring and it is looking to be true (knock on wood).

Groundhog Day is a holiday we should recognize more often because it is such a fun and wacky holiday to celebrate.