Every Year on February 2nd millions of Americans wait in anticipation for our favorite weather man to give us the verdict on whether North America will experience six more weeks of winter or will receive an early spring. Except this weather man isn’t a man it’s not even a person at all it’s a Groundhog and his name is Punxsutawney Phil.
Punxsutawney Phil or Phil for short is a groundhog that as the legend goes has come out every year since 1887 to predict the upcoming forecast across United States. Phil predicts the weather based on whether or not he sees his shadow. If Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter, but if Phil doesn’t see his shadow, spring will come early. Phil, however, isn’t only famous for his weather predictions; he’s also an accomplished astronaut blasting off to the moon in 1958 in his spaceship “chucknik” at least according to the Punxsutawney groundhog club.
The origins of Groundhog Day traces their roots back to German immigrants who came the US during the late 19th century who believed that if a hedgehog saw its shadow on February second (which was the religious holiday of Candlemas) that there would be six more weeks of bad weather. However, if the hedgehog didn’t see its shadow there would be an early spring with warmer weather on the way. This tradition among German immigrants survived in the U.S but with the European hedgehog replaced by the North American groundhog.
The start of the tradition in the town of Punxsutawney began in 1887 with the first convening of what would become the ground hog club on February 2nd, 1887, from here the tradition of ground hog day slowly morphed into what is now with thousands of people attending the festivities in Punxsutawney every year. This fun tradition has also spread to the rest of United States with dozens of towns across the country having a groundhog of their own.
The amazing thing about Groundhog Day is its ability to break up the crushing monotony of January, February and March, with a fun, harmless holiday that everyone can enjoy. The tradition of Groundhog Day is important because of its ability to break the winter up in completely unserious no commitment away unlike the other winter holidays ground hog day doesn’t require you buy anything for anyone it doesn’t require for you to decorate it all it requires is a internet connection to obverse the festivities. Groundhog Day has its supporters one of them being Rhys Panchura who called it “One of the holidays of all time.”
