Since the 19th century, people have gathered from near and far on Feb. 2 to see if a groundhog will predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter. Yet, where did this tradition of a weather-predicting groundhog come from?
According to groundhog.org, Groundhog Day first stemmed from the ancient Christian holiday, Candlemas. Every year on February 2, Christian churches around the world would gather on the last day of the Christmas season to bless their Christmas candles so they could be used the rest of the year.
As time progressed, Candlemas became less of a candle-blessing holiday and focused more on predicting the incoming weather. It was said if it was sunny and bright on Candlemas Day, winter would last another six weeks and if it was dark and cloudy, spring was on its way.
In the mid-1800s, Germans decided to turn the Candlemas tradition into their own and include an animal. They chose a hibernating animal found in abundance in Germany: the hedgehog. If the hedgehog saw its shadow on Candlemas, winter would continue on for six more weeks. If the hedgehog did not see its shadow and came out of hibernation, it meant spring was here.
The late-1800s brought many German settlers to the U.S. looking for work and escaping from economic troubles and riots. Around seven and a half million Germans immigrated to the northeast U.S. in as little as 50 years.
Along with their belongings, they brought their traditions, myths and folklore, including Candlemas. However, there were almost no hedgehogs native to the U.S. The Germans, wishing to keep their traditions in a foreign land, decided to choose another hibernating animal as a symbol of their celebration. A group of Germans living in Pennsylvania, a state known for its high population of German immigrants, suggested the groundhog. This decision became widely accepted and the groundhog became the official weather-predicting animal of Candlemas.
The town of Punxsutawney, PA soon became known for their groundhog, and in 1886, it was unanimously decided that the town groundhog, named Phil, would be used for the new German holiday on Feb. 2, “Groundhog Day.”
Since that day, the holiday has become an international sensation broadcasted around the world. For the past 134 years, people gather at Gobbler’s Knob Hill to see if Phil the Punxsutawney groundhog will grant us more winter or an early spring. The tradition has become so popular, it has become a movie and even a Broadway musical.
This year, the celebration will be held socially distanced and live on television for all to watch. What will Phil predict for 2021? We’ll soon find out.
