Ancient traditions have used animals to predict the weather for centuries. But Groundhog Day is a relatively new thing.
Farmers in Germany, waited for late winter to watch the hibernating hedgehog, to come out of his burrow. If the hedgehog saw his shadow, on a bright, sunlit day, he quickly returned to hibernate…therefore, solidifying the prediction, of six more weeks of winter, for German farmers.
When the Germans, settled in Pennsylvania, they brought the old belief with them; replacing the hedgehog, with the more common American, Groundhog.
In 1993 Bill Murray made the delightful movie called Groundhog Day, which is well worth watching, always. In it, he visits, as a reporter, the town that celebrates this day with gusto, where he gets stuck there for days; but meets the famous Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog.
Punxsutawney Phil is a celebrity, or may even be, the most famous weather forecaster in the USA. Every year, the world’s paparazzi are in attendance in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on February 2nd; as all of America, awaits with frosty breath for Phil to appear.
You can visit the official website for the Groundhog Day celebration. This year they are even hosting a yearly Breakfast with Phil! Yum….
Enjoy!
http://www.groundhog.org/