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Get ready to celebrate Groundhog Day on February 2! This festive holiday is based on an old European tradition from the 1800s and has been celebrated in Pennsylvania since 1887. The legend of Groundhog Day states that if a groundhog (also known as a woodchuck) emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If no shadow appears, then spring will come early!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>European Tradition</div><div class='timeline-text'>Old European tradition that inspired Groundhog Day was brought to the US. The initial custom involves animal predictions on February 2.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1887</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Official Groundhog Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first official Groundhog Day observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, centered around a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1961</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Spread Across North America</div><div class='timeline-text'>The tradition of Groundhog Day spreads to various other regions across North America, making it a widely observed event.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1993</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>"Groundhog Day" Movie Release</div><div class='timeline-text'>The release of the film "Groundhog Day", starring Bill Murray, brought more popularity and awareness to the holiday internationally.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2002</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Live Media Coverage</div><div class='timeline-text'>Live media coverage of Punxsutawney Phil's prediction begins, attracting a larger audience to the event.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a Groundhog Day movie</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather up your friends and family and watch the classic Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day. Enjoy the laughs and join in on the fun.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go to a Groundhog Day celebration</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Many small towns have groundhog festivals now. These are usually events with food, music, and of course, groundhogs! It's a great way to celebrate this holiday with friends and family.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Plan a Punxsutawney Phil party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite all your friends over for some Groundhog Day fun. You can make delicious treats that feature groundhogs, like dirt cupcakes or cookies shaped like Punxsutawney Phil. Have a costume contest or play games that are related to Groundhog Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Learn about groundhog folklore</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take some time to learn about the history of this holiday and its traditions. You can read books or watch documentaries about groundhog folklore and superstitions.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a groundhog sanctuary</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>There are many sanctuaries dedicated to the conservation of groundhogs and other animals. Spend some time at one of these sanctuaries to learn more about these animals and their habitats.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a fun tradition</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Groundhog Day is a fun tradition that has been celebrated in the United States since the late 1800s. It involves looking to an iconic animal (the groundhog) for clues about upcoming weather patterns and is full of old superstitions, folklore, and local culture.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a great excuse to spend time outdoors</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>What better excuse to get out and enjoy nature than Groundhog Day? Whether you're waiting for the groundhog to emerge or just exploring your local area, it's a great way to add some adventure to your day and get away from technology for a while.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes conservation</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By celebrating Groundhog Day, we are raising awareness for our natural environment as well as the creatures living within it. This helps encourage people to take more action in conserving our planet and protecting its wildlife habitats which benefits everyone!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Groundhog Day originates from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition</h3><p class='facts-content'>This superstition held that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The most famous groundhog resides in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania</h3><p class='facts-content'>The groundhog, known as Punxsutawney Phil, attracts an annual pilgrimage to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, where Phil's "prediction" is revealed to enthusiastic onlookers.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Punxsutawney Phil's predictions are not scientifically accurate</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the National Climatic Data Center, Phil’s predictions have shown no predictive skill during the most recent years of the analysis.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Groundhog Day was officially adopted in the U.S. in 1887</h3><p class='facts-content'>The tradition of Groundhog Day was first celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1887, thanks to local newspaper editor, Clymer Freas.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The "Inner Circle" takes care of Punxsutawney Phil</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, a group of local dignitaries, takes care of Phil year-round and plans the annual ceremony.</p></div></div>
Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 every year. In 2024 Groundhog Day will occur on a Friday.
2023
Feb 2
Thursday
2024
Feb 2
Friday
2025
Feb 2
Sunday
2026
Feb 2
Monday
2027
Feb 2
Tuesday
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