Every red-blooded American knows that February 2nd is Groundhog Day and that how long winter will last is predicted on that day. But what else do you know about it?
Let’s start with the basics. Just exactly what is a “groundhog”? Well, some of you will know it as a “woodchuck,” as in the old tongue twister: “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Others may call it a “whistle-pig,” I suppose after the warning sound it makes and its decidedly round shape. Farmers have other names for them – none complimentary because the holes woodchucks dig for their burrows often result in injuries (and worse) to animals and people.
Why is a groundhog supposed to be able to predict the end of winter?
Groundhogs hibernate. They grow very fat in the autumn and then sleep the winter away in their burrows. On warmish winter days, they venture forth, hoping that the warmer temperature means Spring has come.
The myth is that if the sun is shining when the groundhog ventures out, it will go back into its burrow and back to sleep. Why? Evidently, it is afraid of its shadow! Winter then will continue for another six weeks.
Logically, this doesn’t make much sense since the warm sun should signal Spring. But folklore doesn’t always make sense!
How did this practice begin?
Predicting the weather based on animal behavior is an ancient practice. February 2nd, half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, was celebrated by the Celts (in Ireland, Scotland, Wales) millennia ago. That festival, called Imbolc, included foretelling the weather based on snakes and/or badgers emerging from hibernation.
As with other pagan holidays, Christianity absorbed this one by adopting that date to celebrate Candlemas. Eventually, the ancient Celtic and the Christian traditions combined to create the tradition of predicting the arrival of Spring based on either the weather or animal behavior on Candlemas day.
In the US, German settlers adopted the groundhog as a weather-predictor to replace the closely related European hedgehog. As for Groundhog Day itself, most date the celebration from the mid-1800s. It began in the portions of Pennsylvania that were settled by Germans and Swiss. The celebration in Punxsutawney began in 1886 — or earlier.
Who is Punxsutawney Phil?
“Phil” is the name given to the groundhog that’s used at the yearly celebration in Punxsutawney, PA. In the wild, groundhogs live 3 to 4 years; when as well cared for as Phil, they can live to be 10. So, there have been many “Phils” since 1886.
Is Punxsutawney Phil the only groundhog that forecasts the weather?
No, he just gets the most attention. General Beauregard Lee predicts the weather from Lilburn, Georgia, but has only been at this for a couple of decades. Others include Dunkirk Dave (Western New York State), Buckeye Chuck (Ohio), Staten Island Chuck (New York) and Wiarton Willie (an albino Canadian groundhog) — and there must be more! All are newcomers, though, compared to Phil.
Is Punxsutawney Phil usually right – or wrong?
Wrong. More than 60% of the time.
Are you wondering if I can spell “Punxsutawney” without looking it up first?
Nope. I have to look it up every year!
Tags: seasonal
