February 2nd is Groundhog Day. How did this tradition begin and why?

Every February 2nd in the cold, early daylight on top of a small hill in the small western Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney, a big weather celebration occurs— Groundhog Day.

Made famous by the 1993 film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, the town’s groundhog, Phil, is pulled from his burrow and tells a committee of townspeople whether he has seen his shadow or not. Shadow means six means of winter, no shadow — an early spring is near.

Although Groundhogs Day has evolved into a party to help people get through the winter doldrums and boost local tourism, the beginning of Groundhogs Day goes back centuries.

In fact, February 2nd is a European Christian holiday called Candlemas. It marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. People would take their candles to church to get blessed for winter’s second half.

The day would evolve into a day for weather folklore and the Germans would look to the native hedgehog or badgers for details about the winter’s final six weeks. And yes, shadows were involved even back then.

When Germans emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, they brought the Candlemas traditions too. However, hedgehogs aren’t native to the U.S., so the common groundhog became the weather prognosticating substitute.

The first recorded Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., occurred in 1886. The tradition has continued annually through the Great Depression, world wars and even the COVID-19 pandemic – last year had no public attendance but was streamed lived around the world. This year sees a return to in-person.

Groundhog Day isn’t just celebrated in Punxsutawney anymore. There are dozens of events around the North America involving the Groundhog and a weather prediction.

For the latest weather forecast without the need to corral a sleepy Groundhog – they are usually hibernating this time of year — check your Weather & Radar.