What Exactly is a Groundhog, and What Makes Us Lay Our Hopes on Him?

Perhaps one of the sillliest holidays in the United States happens each February 2nd. It's a day millions in Northern states wait with bated breath to see if a large rodent will come out of his hole and see his shadow. The myth that we've perpetuated is if this rodent sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter, and if he doesn't there will be an early spring.

The ground hog almost always sees his shadow, in fact I can't recall a time when he hasn't. I suspect that even if there were no shadow winter would most likely hang on just as tightly.

The groundhog, otherwise known as a woodchuck, is one of fourteen species of marmots and gorges himself all summer in order build up enough fat reserves to last through the winter when he hibernates.

Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family, weighing 13 pounds on average, measure 1.5 to 2 feet, not including the tail. While groundhogs mostly stick to the ground, like other squirrels, they can also climb trees. Proof of a groundhogs meteorology skills is yet to be determined.

The European tradition of Candlemas, the day to commemorate the Purification of the Virgin Mary, is thought to be where the weather predicting tradition began. There is an old supposition that a sunny Candlemas would lead to six more weeks of winter. As time went on, different folklore was merged into this tradition.

The Germans incorporated a hedgehog into the celebration, and a belief that the hedgehog would be frightened of his shadow and causing winter to last six more weeks, but when the belief migrated to America in the 18th century, the groundhog took it's place as the head of the holiday.

Although people all over North America make note of Ground Hog Day each February 2nd, the true celebration happens each year in Punxsatawney, PA where many gather to see if Punxsatawney Phil sees his shadow or not. Phil was also featured in the movie Groundhog Day staring Bill Murray, where Murray relives February 2nd over and over as he tries to get the day, and his life, just right.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/groundhog/

http://www.theholidayspot.com/groundhogday/theday.htm