What do magical elixirs, prophecies, furry burrowing rodents, Feb. 2, ancient German traditions and Billy Murray have in common? A little ritualistic holiday Americans and Canadians call “Groundhog Day”. You probably all know the basic gist of the story: The groundhog comes out of his hole.  If it is sunny and the groundhog “sees his shadow” and returns to its burrow, then we can expect six more weeks of winter. However, if he “does not see his shadow” and therefore does not retreat into its burrow, then spring will come early. How did this seemingly farcical and random event start and turn into an international holiday?

According to the website www.groundhog.org, the origins of Groundhog day can be traced back to the earliest days of Christianity in Europe, when on a particular day 40 days after the official birthday of Jesus, called “Candlemas Day”, the clergy would distribute and bless candles to the people. The weather on that particular day became important, as is depicted in this ancient English poem:

“If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Come, Winter, have another flight;

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Go Winter, and come not again.”

As Christian conquest continued to spread through Europe, this custom also spread.  Perhaps, the Germanic people did not feel that their own interpretations of the weather on Candlemas day were quite adequate enough, and thus anointed this heavy burden on natural creatures clearly more wise and in-tune with Mother Earth.  These animals have been reported to be the badger, the bear, or the hedgehog.  Later, as Europeans began to settle in North America’s Pennsylvania, they brought over their culture and traditions.  Possibly upon finding a lack of hedgehogs in America, but discovering plentiful groundhogs as an adequate replacement, the tradition has continued in that form to this day.

The holiday survives where it began in America, in the state of Pennsylvania.  While the state features many popular gatherings for the celebration, the largest celebration of them all in the United States happens every year in Punxsutawney.  When the Bill Murray movie “Groundhog Day” came out in 1993, it received very positive reviews which in turn injected the holiday into pop culture.  According to www.groundhog.com, the town has received “record crowds” in attendance to the morning’s event since the movie’s release.