Groundhogs and Groundhog Day

Groundhogs

• Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, spend most of their time alone, foraging for plants and grasses, and digging burrows up to 66 feet long.
• They often dig under open areas like meadows and farmlands, which can cause problems for farmers by destroying crops and creating holes in the soil.
• These holes and burrows are crucial for groundhogs, serving as a place to sleep, raise babies, and even go to the bathroom.

Groundhog Day

• According to legend, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2nd and doesn't see its shadow, spring will come early, but if it does see its shadow, winter will last six more weeks.
• The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where people have been gathering since the late 1800s.
• Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, is said to predict the weather, with some claiming he's correct between 75-90% of the time, while others say only one-third of the time.

History of Groundhog Day

• Groundhog Day has its roots in the Christian holiday of Candlemas Day, which celebrates the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox.
• The tradition was later expanded by the Germans, who used a hedgehog to predict the weather, believing that if it cast a shadow on Candlemas Day, winter would continue for six more months.
• German immigrants in Pennsylvania replaced the hedgehog with the more common groundhog in the mid to late 1800s.

Punxsutawney Phil

• Punxsutawney Phil is treated like a celebrity, with large crowds gathering to see him emerge from his burrow on February 2nd.
• The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is responsible for the nation's largest and most famous Groundhog Day celebration.
• The club's president, William Dealey, notes that the tradition originated from farmers using animals to help predict the weather.