Groundhog Day or Groundhog's Day is a traditional holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. It was originally a mid-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. However, before the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, precession caused the cross-quarter day to drift to a later date. Groundhog day now falls four days before the cross-quarter day. Groundhog Day is a 1993 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (905x678, 289 KB) Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney. ... Punxsutawney is a borough located in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the northern hemisphere winter solstice Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the southern hemisphere winter solstice In astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. ... For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see liturgical year. ... Precession of the equinoxes refers to the precession of the Earths axis of rotation. ...

In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its nest, and the winter will continue for 6 more weeks. Cumulus humilis indicates a good day ahead. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as the woodchuck, land beaver, or whistlepig, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. ... For the geological process, see Weathering or Erosion. ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ...

History

Tradition beginnings

The groundhog (Marmota monax)is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots.

Around the fifth century, the European Celts believed that animals had certain supernatural powers on special days that were half-way between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.^[1] Folklore from Europe indicated that when certain animals, such as marmots and bears, came out of their winter dens too early, they were frightened by their shadow and retreated back inside for four to six weeks.^[2] Image File history File links DogGroundHog-small. ... Image File history File links DogGroundHog-small. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as the woodchuck, land beaver, or whistlepig, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. ... This article is about the mammal. ... Genera Many: see text. ... Genera Ammospermophilus Spermophilus Cynomys Marmota Tamias Sciurotamias The ground squirrels are all members of the Sciuridae most closely related to the genus Marmota and included in the tribe Marmotini. ... Species See text. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the northern hemisphere winter solstice Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the southern hemisphere winter solstice In astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is... In astronomy, the vernal equinox (spring equinox, March equinox, or northward equinox) is the equinox at the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere: the moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Species See text. ...

American traditional origins

The earliest known American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Historical Society of Berks County in Reading, Pennsylvania. The reference was made Feb. 4, 1841 in Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania storekeeper James Morris' diary: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate." , Reading (IPA:) is the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania and the center of the Greater Reading Area. ... Morgantown is a populated place in Berks County, Pennsylvania. ... Berks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

In the United States the tradition derives from a Scottish poem:

As the light grows longer

The cold grows stronger

If Candlemas be fair and bright

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas be cloud and snow

Winter will be gone and not come again

A farmer should on Candlemas day

Have half his corn and half his hay

On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop

You can be sure of a good pea crop

This tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day^[3] and Groundhog Day. Candlemas, also known as the Purification of the Virgin or the Presentation, coincides with the earlier pagan observance Imbolc. Candlemas (Russian: Sretenie, Spanish: Candelaria) is a Christian feast commemorating the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. ... Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. ...

Alternative origin theories

In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere the official first day of Spring is about six weeks after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This was exactly six weeks after February 2. Assuming that the equinox marked the first day of spring in certain medieval cultures, as it does now in western countries, Groundhog Day occurred exactly six weeks before spring. Therefore, if the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day there would be six more weeks of winter. If he didn't, there would be 42 more days of winter. In other words, the Groundhog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor. Occident redirects here. ... For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see liturgical year. ... For other uses, see Equinox (disambiguation). ... The Julian calendar was a reform of the Roman calendar which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ...

Alternatively, the custom could have been a folk embodiment of the confusion created by the collision of two calendrical systems. Some ancient traditions marked the change of season at cross-quarter days such as Imbolc when daylight first makes significant progress against the night. Other traditions held that Spring did not begin until the length of daylight overtook night at the Vernal Equinox. So an arbiter, the groundhog / hedgehog, was incorporated as a yearly custom to settle the two traditions. Sometimes Spring begins at Imbolc, and sometimes Winter lasts 6 more weeks until the Equinox. A cross-quarter day is a day falling halfway between one of the four main solar events (two solstices and two equinoxes) and the next one. ... Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. ... For other uses, see Spring. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. ... For other uses, see Spring. ... Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... For other uses, see Equinox (disambiguation). ...

Famous prognosticators and predictions

As stated earlier, a shadow of Punxsutawney Phil means six more weeks of winter and no shadow means spring is around the corner.^[4] Groundhog Day proponents state that the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90%. A Canadian study for 13 cities in the past 30 to 40 years puts success rate level at 37%.^[5] Also, the National Climatic Data Center reportedly has stated that the overall predictions accuracy rate is around 39%.^[6] Random chance at a correct guess would be about 50% The U.S. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina is the worlds largest active archive of weather data. ... Probability is the likelihood that something is the case or will happen. ...

,What follow is a record of the various dates accompanied by several of the most famous marmot predictions. Species See text. ...

Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney featuring Phil. ... Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney. ... Wiarton Willie is a famous Canadian groundhog who lives in the community of Wiarton in Bruce County, Ontario. ... Wiarton is a town in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, on the shore of Colpoys Bay, an inlet off Georgian Bay. ... Staten Island Chuck is a groundhog who resides in the Staten Island Zoo in Staten Island, New York in the United States. ... New York, New York redirects here. ... General Beauregard Lee, PhD is a groundhog that resides at the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Georgia just outside of Atlanta. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... Motto: Oaks From Acorns Location in the state of New York County Nassau County Government  - Village Mayor Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald Area  - City 2. ... Brandon Manitoba, a city in southwestern Manitoba, Canada. ... Balzac is a hamlet in southern Alberta, in the Municipal District of Rocky View. ... Shubenacadie is a community located in Hants County, in central Nova Scotia, Canada. ... Kleinburg is a small unincorporated village located in the city of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. ... Spanish is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Algoma District near the border of the Sudbury District. ... For other uses of this name, see Raleigh. ... Tampa redirects here. ... Sun Prairie is a city located in Dane County, Wisconsin and is a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin. ... Quarryville is a borough located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. ...

In fiction

At the end of Disney's 1930 Silly Symphony Winter, a Mr. Groundhog the Weather Prophet comes out of his hole to determine whether or not there will be more winter. At first, he does not see his shadow, but the clouds clear and his shadow appears, causing him to run back inside. At this point, the winds picks up again and winter continues. In the 1979 Rankin-Bass Christmas TV special Jack Frost, a crucial plot point in the story involves Jack casting his own shadow on Groundhog Day for six more weeks of winter. At the end of the story it is revealed that the narrator (voiced by Buddy Hackett) is the groundhog. Disney may refer to: The Walt Disney Company and its divisions, including Walt Disney Pictures. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A scene from The Skeleton Dance (1929). ... Buddy Hackett (August 31, 1924 – June 30, 2003) was an American comedian and actor. ...

The 1993 comedy movie Groundhog Day takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on this day (although the majority of the movie was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois). The main character (played by Bill Murray) is forced to relive the day over and over again until he can learn to give up his selfishness and become a better person. The movie consistently rates among the IMDB's Top 250 movies as voted by users. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Groundhog Day is a 1993 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. ... Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney. ... Northwest corner of Woodstocks public square Woodstock is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. ... William James Bill Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-winning American comedian and actor. ...

Also in the As Told By Ginger episode "Next Question" Carl and Hoodsey liberate the towns Groundhog so they could sell scarfs remembering their Groundhog,Pete.When the matter is investigated,a monkey Mr.Licorice is in the hole,and people think that he ate Pete. As Told By Ginger is an American animated series that premiered on Nickelodeon in October 2000. ...

On January 9 2006, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office presented installments of the Groundhog 202 film series, a Groundhog Day promotion that played off The Shining. The film shows what happens when the groundhog, stuck inside for 364 days, goes mad with cabin fever. On January 11 2007, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office presented installments of the Groundhog Crossing film series, a Groundhog Day promotion that depicted the departure of the Shadow from his friend the Groundhog in an attempt to stop the cycle of winter predictions. is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses of this term, see Shining. ... This article is about the psychological condition. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Similar Customs

In Germany the 27th of June is "Siebenschläfertag" (Seven Sleepers Day). If it rains that day, the rest of summer is supposedly going to be rainy. While it might seem it refers to the "Siebenschläfer" squirrel (Glis Glis), it actually commemorates the Seven Sleepers (the actual commemoration day is July 25). Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) The edible dormouse or fat dormouse (Glis glis) is a small dormouse and the only species in the genus Glis. ... In Christian mythology, the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus is a folktale concerning a number of fictional people who for a time were venerated as saints. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

1. ^ Exploring Celtic Druidism: Ancient Magick and Rituals for Personal Empowerment By Sirona Knight. Page 20.
2. ^ All Around the Year: Holidays and Celebrations in American Life By Jack Santino. Page 58.
3. ^ http://www.groundhog.org/history/tradition.shtml
4. ^ http://www.gojp.com/groundhog/shadow.html
5. ^ thecanadianencyclopedia
6. ^ http://www.petloveshack.com/groundhog.html

Further reading

• Michael A. Aaron, Brewster B. Boyd, Jr., Melanie J. Curtis, Paul M. Sommers, Punxsutawney's Phenomenal Phorecaster. The College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan., 2001), pp. 26-29 doi 10.2307/2687216
• Cohen, H., & Coffin, T. P. (1987). The Folklore of American holidays. Detroit, Mich: Gale Research Co.
• Old, W. C., & Billin-Frye, P. (2004). The Groundhog Day book of facts and fun. Morton Grove, Ill: Albert Whitman & Company.
• Pulling, A. F. (2001). Around Punxsutawney. Images of America. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia.

Don Yoder, Groundhog Day, Stackpole Books, 2003

External links

• History of Groundhog Day
• Groundhog Day History
• Groundhog Day and Gardening A gardener's reflections on Groundhog Day.
• Collection of links to websites about Groundhog Day
• A Collection of Groundhog Crossing Videos Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil crosses America