Its online at this link, at the website of our colleagues at the Association for Cultural Equity. Today, Groundhog Day is celebrated with a groundhog prediction, festivities, food and speeches. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since November 1 in the Celtic year was a day devoted to the dead, the Church made it into All Saints Day. How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. and why we still celebrate it 137 years later Updated February 2, 2023 7:32 AM ET Originally published February 2, 2023 5:11 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition Here are just a few of the ways you can join the fun. Phil will let us know whether to expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Modern Day Celebration of Groundhog Day. If Phil is scared back into his tree trunk by his shadow, then six more weeks of winter weather are in our forecast. Let us know in the comments! Soon She'll Start 7th Grade, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The Original Groundhog Day Involved Eating the Groundhog, Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? The ball takes place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on February 3rd at the Punxsutawney Country Club. Groundhog is the common vernacular name of the ground squirrel formally known as Marmota Monax. This article tells you several ways people go about celebrating Groundhog Day. It sounds like a weird marmot cult, but they are good fun. responsible for everything that you post. One of the first members was a popular news editor, and the story of Punxsutawney Phil went national. You can join in for free or enter the show via an online form. Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Groundhog Day for England as Billy Vunipola joins Owen Farrell in the COVID-19 dampened a few of those events for the last few years, but some of them may be making a reappearance this year. The groundhog comes out of its hole and looks around itself. In medieval German culture, people believed that hedgehogs could predict winter if it saw its shadow. The look of a groundhog is always so blunt enough to tell people that he has been busy searching food to stuff his cheek as priority as animal instinct over the day of Celebration delegated to him. Listen to the most important stories of the day. Visit your local zoo if groundhogs aren't native to your area. As per the lore, it is the same Philwho used to just be called Brer Groundhog or The Punxsutawney Groundhog until 1961who has been delivering weather pronouncements since 1887, which puts him at 135 years old. Even earlier celebrants used bears to predict the weather, but as their numbers thinned, badgers became the go-to meteorologists (though foxes also worked in a pinch). Supposedly, hes fed a magic elixir that keeps him tickin. The beliefs and practices of Groundhog Day have led to a fascinating development in Pennsylvania Dutch country: the Groundhog Lodges, a loose organization of social clubs focused on the maintenance of Pennsylvania Dutch language and culture. Included: Three Internet teaching masters. Art shows are held in local schools and community centers, and many of the artists and bands are local as well. but after the release of the movie called Groundhog Day in 1993, attendance rose to about 10,000 people. In the event of a Willie dying, the town often has to scramble to find a replacement because of the distinct appearance of the white rodents. so take your pick - NPR Thousands will throng to the city, just 85 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, for four days of wine tastings, live music, art shows, and more! Groundhog Day Celebrations occuring in 2022. You can also purchase tickets on-site at Gobblers Knob Visitor Center. The bizarre history of Groundhog Day | CNN Gobbler's Knob Got Talent. Well, the groundhog has spoken, so it's official: Six more weeks of winter, according to Punxsutawney Phil, the. In 2015, Jimmy bit mayor Jon Freund on the ear and was subsequently pardoned the next day. Did Punxsutawney Phil lie? Temperatures to hit 70s in Asheville Temperatures to hit near 80 in Asheville this week. The top two finalists will perform on Groundhog Day during the Gobblers Knob morning celebrations. The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper had reported on the groundhog not seeing his shadow the year before (though no event was held), and its city editor Clymer Freas is credited with inventing the day as we still celebrate it. Yes, really. Upwards of 40,000 people now travel to where Phil the Weatherman and Phil the Groundhog faced off in an existential battle of wills (and piano lessons). When Punxsutawneyans gathered on a hilltop known as Gobbler's . In 1954, before making his prognostication, Virginia's official groundhog killed himself trying to get out of his cage at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Just show up and bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. Theyre adorable, and guests can easily build their own Phantastic Phil scavenger hunt using the provided map. Groundhog Day's origins lie in an ancient European celebration of Candlemas. (Festive woodchuck fatalities arent unique to Canada: on Sunday, officials in Milltown, New Jersey announced the towns animal diviner known as Milltown Mel had died, only days before giving his annual prediction. He lived to 22 and was found dead only two days before Groundhog Day in 1999. Its a nice place to stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. Bring your formal dress and join the locals and tourists from around the world for an evening of class and fun. As mentioned above, Groundhog Day festivities might be some of the strangest traditions in North America, and it all revolves around a buck-toothed, furry prognosticator. Groundhog Day celebrations include music and food and a groundhog named 'Punxsutawney Phil' emerges to tell the President of the 'Inner Circle' his weather prediction. He lives in Gobbler's Knob near Punxsutawney and is cared for all year long by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club . I cut him up and I got him on soon Charles Todd and Robert Sonkin collected it from Ernie Alston in the Shafter FSA Camp in California. Its a family-friendly and laid-back festival in a welcoming little town. Method 1 Observing the Day 1 Read up on Groundhog Day history. Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog emerged from his burrow on a cold Wednesday morning and saw his shadow, declaring there would be six more weeks of winter. Fear not, Collctiv is here to help. The first recorded annual travel to Gobbler's Knob for Groundhog Day occurred on February 2nd, 1887. The old dog treed and treed in a log Homegrown Plus: Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Voices of Civil Rights Project collection, shared to Flickr with a Creative Commons License, Find the archival scan with its bibliographic record here, In the Irish saga The Wooing of Emer, which probably dates to the 11th century but recounts events set in pre-Christian Ireland, shared to Flickr with a creative commons license, You can read its induction essay in a pdf at this link, childrens books about Groundhog Day at the Library, which you can learn about at this link, taken by Joe Flood and shared to Flickr with a Creative Commons license, recipes were printed in many early American cookbooks such as this one, book of Groundhog Day carols, which you can learn about at this link, Its online at this link, at the website of our colleagues at the Association for Cultural Equity, Groundhog, sung and played on the fiddle by Blind Jim Howard is at this link, Groundhog, sung and played on banjo by George Shortbuckle Roark is at this link, Find out more about Dons relationship to folklife at these previous posts. You could even go on an exciting Punxsutawney scavenger hunt! But the recent saga of Willie has exposed years of scrambling and deception by city officials in the event of untimely rodent deaths. If you'd like, ask your teacher if you could bring a Groundhog Day-themed to treat, like groundhog-shaped cookies or Groundhog Day cupcakes. However, you can still pop into one of the fantastic venues for a taste! Learn how to observe Groundhog Day traditions, where to find Groundhog Day celebrations, and what to do if you want to host a Groundhog Day party. Groundhog Day 2023: When is it and what happens if Phil sees shadow? Pop into the local diners. The first mention Yoder has found of groundhogs predicting the weather on February 2 is in a diary entry for that day in 1840, written by a Welsh-American storekeeper in Pennsylvania: Today the Germans say the groundhog comes out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he returns in and remains there 40 days. The Gobblers Knob gates open at 3 a.m. on Groundhog Day, and for 4.5 hours leading up to the main event, locals and tourists alike gather for a giant party in the park. As Yoder also points out, the badger is like the groundhog in being a small, hibernating, forest-dwelling mammal known for being very shy, and it was only natural for German-speaking immigrants to America to substitute the groundhog for the badger. Major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante. Dont show up at 7. Crowd around a flame and mingle with other visitors and try to keep warm in the Pennsylvania winter. The first official celebration of Groundhog Day was the following year, and it has grown in popularity ever since, especially after the 1993 Bill Murray movie that highlighted the festivities. Wiartons 2022 Groundhog Day festival will once again be a virtual event. Youre in for a treat. If you live near us in Washington, D.C., you may be happy to know that we have our own local Groundhog Day observance at the Dupont Circle Fountain. Well let you judge how accurate he was! Versions of this Candlemas weather-lore in English, Scots, and Latin have been preserved both as simple statements of belief and practice, and as rhymes, a few of which are listed in the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs: Men were wonte for to discerne As the Dupont Festival promises: WED, FEB 2, 2022 at 8:30AM sharp GROUNDHOG DAY: Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. You could also make your own groundhog mask out of cardstock and wear it throughout the day. Here are a few examples of what might be going on during the four-day celebration. The park will be filled with tens of thousands of folks, so bring your social pants. When Willie died in November, the town realized all groundhogs were hibernating and a new white one couldnt be swapped. The annual celebration is part of Groundhog Day, a North American tradition (and movie of the same name) which holds that if a groundhog sees its shadow after emerging from hibernation, six. But for albinos, because they are rare, and some of them are true albinos with red eyes and others have brown eyes, there is a slight difference between them.. Officials improvised, having the mayor toss her hat in the air and make the prediction instead of revealing his death. This article has been viewed 101,367 times. Many sources claim that the original Groundhog Day took place in 1887, when residents of Punxsutawney set out to Gobbler's Knob, known as Phil's "official" home, but the first piece of . They totally embrace the kitsch of it all, and you should too. On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, the groundhog's shadow being visible indicates whether 6 more weeks of winter is expected, or if spring will arrive early. Its located at 201 N. Finley Street in a beautiful historic post office. Groundhog Day - Wikipedia Its one of the United Statess oldest traditions, immortalized by Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, about a grumpy weatherman who relives the holiday on repeat (for potentially thousands of years) until he can get his act together. The details behind the history vary from source to source, but the gist is that, according to Dutch and German lore, if a badger or hedgehog saw its shadow on the Christian holiday of Candlemas Day, it predicted a long winter. Morris describes this as a general belief of his German neighbors; it doesnt appear to be limited to a single family or town, nor does he seem to think it is a brand-new belief. Full-Time Traveler. It is traditionally a day when people brought their candles to church to be blessed, so in English vernacular tradition, it is Candlemas, and in French and Spanish its known as Chandeleur and Candelaria. Although not quite the celebrity Phil has become, Chuck is arguably Americas most reliable shadow-seer. Read our Comment and Posting Policy. In the Irish saga The Wooing of Emer, which probably dates to the 11th century but recounts events set in pre-Christian Ireland, we find that the four days named by Yoder were indeed the main reference points for the reckoning of time; to express the idea that her suitor must be such a skilled warrior that he is safe at all times, Emer says that he must be able to go out in safety from Samhain to Oimel [Imbolc], from Oimel to Beltaine, and again from Beltaine to Bron Trogain [Lughnasa]. In the same story, the warrior Cuchulainn calls Imbolc the beginning of Spring, and opines that the name derives from an ancient word for sheep, because Imbolc is the time when sheep come out and are milked. This saga thus shows that Imbolc was considered a seasonal turning point and a marker of time, and connected with the agrarian year and particularly with animal husbandry. Thank you Steve and thanks also for reminding us of Don Yoders great contributions to the study of folklore in America. But the tradition of predicting the weather persisted through many of the holidays variations. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Phil always makes an appearance for lunch too, so you can get a sweet shot with the star of the show. As explained in an English folk song: While the same principle applied to Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney inserted the notoriously grumpy, burrow-dwelling rodent into the formula as a kind of meteorological middleman. Call or email your local station if you're not sure what channel is broadcasting the event. Please assign a menu to the primary menu location under menu. There are two viewing areas, and they will fill up early. You are fully When Punxsutawneyans gathered on a hilltop known as Gobblers Knob on this day, Feb. 2, in 1887, they did so not just to celebrate the weather-forecasting wizardry of the groundhog the rodent was also on the menu. privilege to post content on the Library site. Whatever the name, theres a strong belief that this little burrowing mammal predicts the weather, and a specific connection to the second day of February. Looking for more awesome winter vacation destinations? Go and buy yourself a drink with the money you normally lose covering your organization-impaired friends, while we step in to give you a hand. Yoder explains: The Handwrterbuch des Deutschen Aberglaubens, or the Dictionary of German Folk Belief, has an article on Lichtmess, or Candlemas. Theres often a picnic in the park as well after the main event, and there will be local food trucks ready to serve. According to the legend, if it sees its shadow, you can expect six more weeks of winter. 'Groundhog Day': jury discharged in Benbow retrial, new one to be Whether you research alone or with friends, learn about the origins of Groundhog Day. Its origins date back to ancient European weather lore, when a sacred bear or badger was the weather predictor instead of the groundhog. The public is welcome to a There will likely be street corner artists and musicians, and there are sometimes woodcarving exhibits or other live shows in Barclay Square throughout the festival. This Groundhog Day tradition is celebrated in many places in the United States and Canada, with an emphasis on tongue-in-cheek humor and ceremonious proclamations. By commenting on our blogs, you are fully responsible for everything that you post. Anyone who spoke English, especially from the podium, was charged a fine for each word. Milltown Mel, a celebrity groundhog, dies just before Groundhog Day : NPR Snowed in during a trip to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities, television weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself stuck in time, endlessly repeating February 2nd. Allison Pearson 22 August 2023 6:03pm. These festivals were apparently celebrated throughout Europe by the various tribes we now refer to as Celts. His world is inhabited by the same people every day, but they don't know Groundhog Day is repeating itself. Or, if you'd prefer a low-key Groundhog Day celebration, stay in and read about the history of the holiday, or watch the classic 1993 film of the same name. Old Aunty Sal came skip and a hop Groundhog Day, in the United States and Canada, day (February 2) on which the emergence of the groundhog ( woodchuck) from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks. In the 1980s, the first Willie appeared on the scene. without consent. At the front were a decorated stage and an eight-foot statue of a groundhog wearing a crown. He got done before quite noongroundhog. Groundhog Day masquerades as a mainstream Hollywood comedy but lures in the viewer with a deeper existential message. In parts of Europe, it was believed that a sunny Candlemas meant another 40 days of winter were on the horizon. 2023 Groundhog Day Celebration Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Events The Inner Circle is pleased to announce the Groundhog Club Sponsored events for Groundhog Day, February 2, 2023. Aside from visiting the famous groundhog, there are lots of things to do in Punxsy. Where Groundhog Day came from, and why we love it Theyre a wealth of information and love to pose for a photo! They pledged allegiance to the American flag, sang America, and then listened to a prayer, all in the Pennsylvania German Deitsch language. But the world of rodent-based meteorology has been shaken by revelations that Willie, a celebrity so beloved that he has statues built in his honor, died last year and his demise was covered up by town officials. Work with our event coordinators and hosts to determine the best package for your event. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Weve been calling the Punxsutawney wonder Phil since 1961, and several official sources note that the name is in honor of King Philip. Many ways were found to commemorate the centennial event, both public and personal. Every year in the Canadian town of Wiarton, devout followers of Wiarton Willie the albino groundhog learn from the rodent if the grip of winter is loosening. If youre not Pennsylvania Dutch OR Pennsylvania German, you may feel like celebrating Groundhog Day without attending a long meeting or paying a fine for speaking English. Groundhog Day began as a Pennsylvanian German celebration in the1800s in Pennsylvania. This event always sells out, so make sure to get your tickets early. Groundhog Day Celebrations 2022 Mathematically, thats not exactly true. Ein ruhiger und einfhlsamer Mann! February 1, 2018 9:43 AM EST Y ou probably know the gist of Groundhog Day: Each Feb. 2, America's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerges from his burrow, and looks for his shadow.. Because of their association with a hibernating woodchuck, many such events are held outdoors, so you wont be in a large indoor gathering, but we still urge you to take pandemic precautions and wear a mask! (Ill mention here that Pennsylvania Dutch and Pennsylvania German mean the same thing; Don Yoder preferred the former term and William Donner prefers the latter.). We hope youve enjoyed this glimpse at Groundhog Day traditions. They will be the ones decked out in tailed tuxedos and big tophats. Of course, if you dont live near a Groundhog Day ceremony, and you dont want to travel, you can always watch the film Groundhog Day! Since the belief and practice almost certainly came from Europe, and since the bulk of Pennsylvania Dutch immigration occurred between 1727 and 1775, its likely Groundhog Day was born in that period. The content of all comments is released into the public domain unless clearly stated otherwise. February 1, extended into February 2, became Candlemas, and eventually Groundhog Day. The fantasy-comedy directed by Harold Ramis is widely accepted as one of the greatest films of the 1990's, despite Ramis and Murray clashing over whether it should hold more philosophical or comic weight. You've soldiered on for far too long but you are not alone. Punxsutawney Phil made his annual. Terrifying. Doors open at 8, and the show ends at midnight. Every February 2nd, the United States and Canada celebrate Groundhog Day to check up on Punxsutawney Phil and see whether he saw his shadow this year. The day after Storm Betty had wreaked havoc across Ireland, in the balmy late August sunshine it was left . Thought hed get my groundhog hamgroundhog. Help your children or younger siblings with fun activities and teach them about the Groundhog Day tradition. You can email them at[emailprotected] for current details and options or call (814) 938-1008. They also hold an annual Brew and Blues Festival and a Gobblers Knob Wine Festival. Ireland 29 England 10. Wife. Milltown Mel, a groundhog who has for years offered his weather predictions on Groundhog Day, has died, his handlers say. Phil doesnt actually live in the cute trunk in Gobblers Knob year-round. One of unbearable pain and sorrow, of innocents slaughtered in a place of safety, of a baby boy, no bigger than a bag of . The first celebration of Groundhog Day took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1886. One is Jimmy, the groundhog for festivities in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (which styles itself as the Groundhog Capital of the World). There have also been arts and crafts tents available where you can decorate a traditional top hat or paint a Phil Figurine. Enjoy! Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and Be cleare and bright with sunnie raie, Censorship rules throughout World War II meant that the biggest papers had to remain tight-lipped about any information that Germany and Japan could use against the United States. If he doesn't, spring is just around the corner. All rights reserved. 8, 2023, 7:54 AM ET (AP) The classic movie "Groundhog Day" is making a comeback, and it is a fitting reminder of the cyclical nature of life. In astronomical terms, these holidays were the cross-quarter days, those days that fall midway between a solstice and an equinox. However, if there was no shadow, that was a sign that the weather would be mild in the following weeks, along with an early spring. Read our Groundhog Day is on Feb. 2 every year. A spaghetti dinner and annual showing of Groundhog Day has taken place in years past at the Salvation Army and the Community Center on the night of February 1st. This animal also goes by other names; the terms woodchuck, marmot, land beaver, whistler, and even whistle-pig all refer to the same creature. Chuck later died of internal injuries.). Please attempt to sign up again. Punxsutawney Phil is the groundhog who was chosen back in 1886 to predict the arrival of spring by observing his shadow. For more suggestions, like how to go searching for real groundhogs on Groundhog Day, read on! She died a few days later, and the Staten Island Zoo had to issue a press release stating that the fall wasnt what killed her. Groundhog gravy all over their chingroundhog. Head over to the ATA Building on Wednesday night at 9 pm for a show like no other. Groundhog Day & History | Sun Prairie, WI - Official - Official Website So how did the groundhog take on the role of a weatherman for many in North America? Would you question the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus? the town wrote. German immigrants are said to have brought this legend to the U.S, where it is now celebrated most famously in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (dating back to 1887!). Jun. To broadcast that a groundhog does or doesnt see his shadow might reveal sky conditions to the enemy. Which King Philip? Groundhog Day is a huge deal (like as big as Christmas) in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where groundhog Punxsutawney Phil is ritually taken up to Gobbler's Knob each year and is placed into an artificial burrow on a false tree stump to predict an early spring or long winter. First Groundhog Day - HISTORY There are two stories here. The website for the community center is down, and theres no clear information as to whether this option will be open post-pandemic. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-groundhog-day, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/groundhog-day-a-history-a_n_441000.html, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/17332, http://blog.nwf.org/2011/01/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-groundhogs/, http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/photos/foods-to-celebrate-groundhog-day, http://www.groundhog.org/events/gobblers-knob-wine-festival/, http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/groundhog-day-party-planning-ideas/, http://www.groundhog.org/teachers/groundhog-cookies/. While not all Americans have traditions for Groundhog Day, the little town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, celebrates big with a bonfire, banquet, concert, and a formal ball! Get a free demo of your event today with no money down. Published 10th Jan 2022, 14:10 BST Updated 2nd Feb 2022, 20:15 BST The Bill Murray comedy film has become a classic since it was released in 1993. Today could be the day you step out of the organizers Groundhog Day, and into a simpler, more organized future. Those who celebrated Candlemas decided that clear skies on the. Despite the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club proudly proclaiming that Phil gets the weather right 100 percent of the time, hes generally pretty awful about knowing whether winter is sticking around or not. Your guess is as good as any. In his 2003 book Groundhog Day, folklorist Don Yoder traces the roots of Groundhog Day to the same cycle of pre-Christian festivals that gave us those two celebrations. As of last year, Phils accuracy rate was in fact 39% less than half that of New York Citys go-to groundhog, Staten Island Chuck, whose predictions have been correct 82% of the time. The doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner starts at 6. Groundhog Day: mysterious rodent deaths and cover-ups plague ceremony One of the most traditional events of the whole festival is the Groundhog Ball. Want my grave dug deep and wide 19 Ways to Celebrate Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA - Let's Roam While these song parodies constitute a vibrant tradition in their own right, the American Folklife Centers archive can offer some older and less self-conscious groundhog songs. If he does not react to his shadow, then he has effectively declared an early spring. His caretaker Francesca Dobbyn did not immediately inform the town, fearing the news would generate bad press.

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