Groundhog Day - a Brief History

On February 2nd of every year a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil has become the official (unofficial) prognosticator of the duration of winter weather. It is a day accompanied by Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania - three days of celebration, and is imitated by other groundhogs scattered throughout the country. Punxsutawney Phil is considered the official groundhog on Groundhog Day, but the tradition of prognosticating the weather on the date of February 2 has a long and rich history.

Groundhog Day was born of an old Christian tradition known as Candlemas Day. On this day clergy would pass out blessings and candles, as many candles as was believed needed for the duration of the winter.

From the Christian tradition of passing out candles, the Germans adopted the concept but elaborated on Groundhog Day prognostication. The hearty Germans chose a hedgehog to predict the weather, although this is not believed to be a tradition of their own making. Like many of our celebrations it may be that pagan ritual of Imbolc, which marked the emerging from hibernation of a sacred bear or badger for the forecasting of winter weather can be attributed to pagan religions which followed animalistic rituals to determine their future state of affairs.

When German settlers arrived in America those in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania cheerfully carried on the tradition, but the switch was necessarily made from hedgehog, to groundhog, an animal abundant in the area.

It was Feb. 2, 1887 that Groundhog Day was first celebrated at the now famous Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. If the groundhog emerged from his hole and saw his shadow he would quickly retreat, an omen of six more weeks of winter weather. If, however, the Groundhog did not see his shadow it was considered a sign that there would be an early spring. Regardless of the results of the Groundhog Day ritual, it became a time of celebration in and around Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

The hype associated with Groundhog Day began in 1887, when a newspaper editor and member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Hunting Club boldly declared that their own Phil, of Punxsutawney - fortunate to escape the hunters liar, was America's only true weather-forecasting groundhog. The American public bought into the editor's assumptions and the Punxsutawney groundhog - always named Phil - became the leading forecaster and the center of media attention on February 2, not to mention the three day celebration that attends the Groundhog Day event.

Groundhogs, or Marmota monax as they are known by the scientific community, typically hibernate in the late fall to sleep through the cold, weary, months of winter. Groundhogs emerge in February not to predict the weather, but to find a mate. It is believed to be startled back in its hole by its shadow, but will emerge from hibernation for good in March.

It so happens, these creatures of habit fell straightaway into the time frame required for a cold weather prognosticator like those of the ancient clergy. So, the Groundhog Day tradition was born to be carried on by this little member of the woodchuck family.

From Punxsutawney groundhogs all over the country have become the forecasters of the weather and the center of local celebrations on Groundhog Day.

Whether you put your faith in a groundhog who sees his shadow is a decision you will make, and cold weather will ultimately prove true or false. But don't miss the fun of a tradition important by German American's of finding out whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, foreboding 6 more weeks of winter weather, or does not see his shadow, forecasting an imminent spring.

It's a fun, if not scientific, tradition and day of hope and celebration, especially if a bitterly cold winter is hoped to be abated.

Sources:

Groundhog Day, Feb 2, The History Channel

Groundhog Day: A History and 5 Facts You Didn't Know, Huffington Post