You most likely have heard of Groundhog Day. Maybe you have seen world famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil on TV making his annual prediction of when spring will arrive. But have you ever wondered how this silly holiday got started. Well, I can tell you because my Great Grandfather was there when Groundhog Day, as we know it, began.
Groundhog Day is actually based on an old European tradition called Candlemas Day. Candlemas Day fell half- way between the winter solstice and vernal equinox, or on or around February 2nd. It was believed that if a hibernating animal saw its shadow on this day then there would be six more weeks of winter. German immigrants carried this tradition to Pennsylvania and it was generally decided that groundhogs, of which there are plenty of in Pennsylvania, would be the designated animal for the job.
But it was not until February 2, 1886 that Groundhog Day would officially be recognized. It was on that day that newspaper editor Clymer Freas of the Punxsutawney Spirit, wrote “Today is Groundhog Day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow”. The following Groundhog Day the first trek to Gobbler’s Knob, the home of Phil the Groundhog, was made by a group of local hunters including the newspaper editor. This group called themselves the “Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” and Harry Beatty, my great grandfather was both a club member and the club cook. In these early years not only was the groundhog the guest of honor, but also the main course! It would be Freas that would declare that a groundhog named Phil from Punxsutawney was the official weather forecasting groundhog and would use his newspaper to publicize Phil’s annual prediction. The story of the weather predicting groundhog spread on and on.
Over the years Phil’s fame has grown from the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to all over the world. Tens of thousands of people flock every year to Gobbler’s Knob in the early hours of the morning to hear Phil’s prediction of an early spring or six more weeks of winter. Phil’s annual prediction is shown on most major TV stations and has been shown on Times Square’s jumbo screen. Phil’s prediction is even entered into the Congressional record.
This year will be the 125th celebration of Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob. There will be music, fireworks and a festival type atmosphere while thousands wait to hear how much longer winter will last. Later in the day there will be a pancake breakfast, carriage rides, weddings and the crowning of Mr. and Miss Groundhog. Yes, Groundhog Day is a silly holiday, but in the middle of winter’s cold it gives us a reason to have some fun and hope of an early spring.
Author’s Note: Please enjoy the slide show from previous Groundhog Days. Note the older picture with a man standing next to a block of ice. That is my great grandfather holding groundhog skins and in the block of ice is skinned groundhogs.
Works Cited:
"About Groundhog Day". The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. 21 January 2011. <http://www.groundhog.org/groundhog-day/about-groundhog-day/>.
"Groundhog Day History". Animal Planet. 21 January 2011. <http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/groundhog/history/history.html>.
Powell, Albrecht. "What in the Heck Is Groundhog Day Anyway?" About.com. 21 January 2011. <http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/punxsutawney/a/groundhog_day.htm>.
