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It’s definitely one of America’s most bizarre holidays. Every February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil and other groundhog prognosticators across America are ceremoniously pulled out of their burrows to predict how much longer winter will last.
If the groundhog sees his shadow, we’re supposed to be in for another six weeks of winter and freezing our tails off. However, if the furry weatherman doesn’t see his shadow, spring and milder temperatures should arrive early.
We say any excuse for a mid-winter festival is a good one. But if you’re wondering how the heck all of this funny business got started, we’re going to fill you in on the origins of this quasi-holiday and acquaint you with some of its most famous rodents.
That’s right, friends; Punxsutawney Phil isn’t the only game in town. And we’ve got some hot, furry gossip to share about the history of Groundhogs Day.
Are we destined for an early spring or a second winter? Let’s get this pre-Groundhog Day party started!
The Ancient Origins of Groundhog Day
Although the first official American Groundhog Day was celebrated back in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, its origins go much further back than that.
In fact, an ancient Celtic ceremony called Imbolc is often pointed to as one of its possible predecessors. Celebrated at the halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, it was a time of ceremonies and weather predictions by people who lived their lives closely in tune with the sun and other celestial events.
One Celtic legend associated with this day is that the creator (symbolized by an old woman) used it as a time to gather her firewood for the remainder of winter. If the day was sunny, it meant that she was gathering lots of firewood for a long, cold winter. If the day was cloudy, it meant she was sleeping, and spring would come early.
Christian Origins
An old Christian tradition, Candlemas is also credited for being another forerunner of the present Groundhog Day. Dating back as far as 5th century Europe, priests would hand out blessed candles to their parishioners to help get them through the remaining dark days of winter.
Superstition eventually propped up around the celebration. As legend had it, if the day of Candlemas was bright and sunny, it meant a long winter. But if there were clouds and warmer weather, spring would soon be on its way.
Starting to get the connection here?
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So, Where Did the Rodents Come In?
If you’re still wondering what Pagan and Christian traditions have to do with furry meteorologists, it’s not quite as outlandish as you think. In Germany, hedgehogs, badgers and other hibernating animals became a part of the Candlemas tradition.
If they crawled out of their hole and saw their shadow because of the sun, it meant winter would drag on. If the day was cloudy or overcast, spring was on its way. Strange as it may seem now, using animals as a predictor of spring isn’t quite so random.
Groundhogs, hedgehogs, badgers and woodchucks are known as true hibernators. So when they start crawling out of their burrows and looking for mates, it means that winter and the bad weather is almost over. And there’s the connection!
The First Groundhog’s Day in America
When German immigrants started settling in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, they naturally brought their customs with them. And because groundhogs were more plentiful than other hibernators, they became the weather predictor of choice by these german settlers.
But the first official Groundhogs Day didn’t actually happen until 1887. The newspaper editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit first declared Punxsutawney Phil as the official weather forecasting rodent in America.
When he and his cronies (known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club) gathered on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney for their first ceremony, they did not only launch a tradition; they launched a groundhog rockstar.
All About Punxsutawney and Phil
Yes, other marmots predict the weather on February 2nd, but the most famous is Punxsutawney Phil by far. Though groundhogs usually only live six to ten years, this same little dude has supposedly been making his prognostications since 1887.
Though we strongly suspect this is fake groundhog news, it’s more fun to accept the legend as the town of Punxsutawney serves it up. Oh, and his official name is actually “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.”
As if that wasn’t hype enough, Punxsutawney Phil and his hometown really got put on the map when Bill Murray filmed the romantic comedy Groundhog Day with Andie MacDowell set in the legendary town of Punxsutawney on February 2nd. Sure, it was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois, with a stunt rodent, but press is press.
After the film came out, attendance of the modest festival went from a few thousand attendees to crowds of over 30,000 people. Today, the festival is a three-day extravaganza featuring all kinds of activities. But the main event is still good, (very) old Phil being pulled out of a burrow by a group of men in suits and top hats (also known as the Inner Circle) as everyone awaits Phil’s prediction.
Life as a Celebrity
Despite Phil’s apparently abysmal talent for predicting the end of winter (Stormfax puts him at 39% accuracy), there’s no denying the celebrity status of the furry meteorologist. And with it came certain privileges.
In 1986, he traveled to Washington for the first time and met President Ronald Reagan.
In 1995, he did a guest appearance on Oprah.
Phil has also traveled to Indianapolis with his handlers to participate in the March Madness basketball activities.
And like most celebrities, he occasionally likes to make a political statement. During Prohibition, he threatened to extend winter for 60 more weeks if not given a cocktail.
And he wore a yellow ribbon in 1981 to support getting the Iranian hostages home, a more altruistic use of his visibility.
Despite his life as a celebrity, Phil remains dedicated to his wife Phyllis, who resides at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library. One can only wonder how she copes with her husband’s fame. And what her favorite book is.
Related: The History of Colored Toilet Paper (And Why It Went Down the Toilet)
Other Furry Meteorologists
While Phil may be the most famous of American groundhogs, he’s definitely not the only show in town. Here are just a few of the beloved weather animals from across North America.
Staten Island Chuck (The Biter)
Chuck (or Charles G. Hogg as he is officially named) began his career back in 1981. Though not nearly as well known as Punxsutawney Phil, zoo officials claim that his accuracy rate for predicting the end of winter is 80%. But, as is often the case with fame, talent isn’t always rewarded.
Perhaps Chuck’s less than shining reputation comes from the fact that he bit NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg during an official Groundhog Day ceremony in 2009.
Then in 2014, there was another bit of unpleasantry when Chuck’s granddaughter Charlotte (who had secretly replaced Chuck) died a week after being dropped in the February 2nd ceremony by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Though the zoo claimed her death had nothing to do with the fall, we suspect that groundhogs and politics don’t always mix.
Jimmy the Groundhog (The Other Biter)
As further proof that groundhogs may have political opinions, we present the case of Jimmy from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He bit the ear of then-Mayor Jonathan Freud back in 2015 as the politico was trying to listen to the critter’s prediction.
After the incident went viral, the USDA issued a warning about capturing live animals and Jimmy (the thug) was released into the wild.
Though officials did find a replacement the following year, Jimmy now remains in his cage during the ceremony.
General Beauregard Lee (The Gentleman)
Hailing from Georgia, Beau is arguably the most cultivated prognosticator of the bunch and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University for “Weather Prognostication” and “Southern Groundology.”
He’s also been honored by the National Weather Service twice for his reliable forecasts. Guess all that honorary education paid off.
According to his Twitter account, his turn-ons include napping, digging tunnels and hash browns. But, under all those degrees, Beau is just a regular Joe, apparently!
Thistle the Whistle Pig (The Child Groundhog Star)
This little lady is a relative newcomer to the scene and didn’t predict the weather until 2016. A bit of a child prodigy, she began her career at only eight months old. Apparently, she was the runt of the litter and ignored by her mother.
Then, like many celebrities who suffered a lack of love in their own family, she sought solace in the limelight. She now lives in the Cleveland museum with an adult male named Lake Eric Eddie (Daddy issues?). We can only hope that her life goes better than the child stars of Hollywood.
We do hear she’s pretty well-grounded.
Wiarton Willie (The Albino)
Wiarton Willie, an albino groundhog, hails from Ontario, Canada. He first became a weather soothsayer back in 1956. Now a part of a three-day festival that includes rock concerts and winter sports like curling, he is handled by an entourage of advisors and PR people.
Like some other groundhogs on our list, his career has not been without scandal. For instance, back in 1999, it was rumored that the untimely death of the original Willie forced festival organizers to use a stuffed groundhog dummy to replace him that year.
We may never know the truth.
Weird Facts About Groundhogs and Groundhogs Day
Want to know more about this mysterious, weather predicting creature? Here are some groundhog facts you may not be familiar with:
Groundhogs belong to the marmot family and are actually large rodents like squirrels.
Groundhogs are known as “true hibernators” and can drop their body temperature to 41 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce their heartbeat to as little as five beats per minute during their winter sleep.
Groundhogs only live about six years if they are in the wild but survive much longer in captivity. (Which may be why the job of weather rodent is so coveted).
One of Canada’s most famous groundhogs, Wiarton Willie, lived to be 22 years old.
Punxsutawney Phil’s longevity is credited to a magical punch that he drinks every summer. Apparently, his life is extended for seven more years with just one sip. We want some.
The average groundhog can move seven hundred pounds of dirt when digging its burrow.
Groundhogs, also known as “whistle pigs,” due to the high-pitched whistle they use to attract mates or sometimes use to warn their family of danger.
Though most groundhogs weigh between four to nine pounds, Punxsutawney Phil weighs in at a whopping twenty pounds. Ah, the life of a pampered celebrity.
Speaking of fattening up groundhogs, the original Groundhog Club of Punxsutawney considered the meat a delicacy and actually hunted and ate groundhogs. People who have tried it describe the flavor as a cross between pork and chicken. We’ll pass!
Groundhog Day – Here It Comes Again
You may not get the day off, and there are no presents involved, but you have to admit that this quirky little holiday does have its own charm. Hey, when you’re only halfway through what can be a long winter, why not entertain yourself by watching a marmot predict the weather?
If you don’t travel to Punxsutawney or one of the other homes of groundhog festivals, you can always catch the action online. And many of the forecasting celebrity groundhogs even have their own Twitter feeds you can check out.
Yes, it’s kind of strange to think that the ancient Celts were actually responsible for spawning generation after generation of groundhog weather gurus. One can only wonder what they would think of a bunch of men in top hats pulling Phil from his burrow. Or about the movie Groundhog Day.
Which, by the way, is always worth watching again. Happy Groundhog Day celebration, everyone!
You might also be interested in: The History Of Daylight Savings Time [Why Do We Adjust Our Clocks?]
Sherry De Alba
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