Groundhog Day

 Today is Groundhog Day!

This day is observed on February 2 in the United States and Canada. This day celebrates a myth from the Pennsylvania Dutch that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, then winter will continue on for six more weeks. If not, an early spring will come.

In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a little ceremony is held every year where a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil predicts how the season will go. The tradition is derived from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition. There are similar traditions of animals predicting weather in German-speaking areas. Other countries have similar superstitions. Hor example, Hungary has one regarding bears. 

In real life, there is no actual link between groundhogs casting shadows and longer winters, but the annual ceremony is still enjoyed every February 2 as a bit of fun. The first recorded observance of a Groundhog Day was in 1886, in the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper. The paper's city editor at the time, Clymer Freas, was credited as the "father" of Groundhog Day. Back then, the ceremonies were carried out by the local Elks Lodge. In 1961, the groundhog used in the ceremony would be named Phil, presumably as a nod to Prince Philip.

The Groundhog Day celebrations were attended by around 2,000 people on average yearly until the release of the 1993 film Groundhog Day. The film being set during the Punxsutawney celebrations helped foster interest, and attendance rose greatly. In recent years, the event has also been live streamed over the Internet. 

In 2026, Phil saw his shadow, so six more weeks of winter this year. Stay warm! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!