History of Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is related to two of the other holidays, Halloween and Mayday. Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal as a means of predicting weather. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State.
Groundhog Day 2024: Punxsutawney Phil Makes His Prediction.
According to the folklore of Groundhog Day, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter and if he doesn't spring will come early. This February 2, 2024, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow in the ceremony Friday morning at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania. Before Friday's announcement, Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President Tom Dunkel told the crowd that a cane that he held gave him the power to speak Groundhog-ese.
‘Dunkel said that Phil would tell him which of two scrolls to use to make his weather prediction. At Dunkel’s direction, the crowd helped fire up the groundhog with repeated chants of “Phil!” before a club member pulled the groundhog from a stump on the stage and held it aloft. Dunkel and other club members leaned over the stump before announcing their decision.” The last time Phil predicted an early spring was 2020. Phil says he did not see his shadow so an early spring is on its way.
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