on this day we trust a rodent to predict
the weather welcome to watchmojo.com and
today we'll be learning more about
Groundhog Day Groundhog Day is
celebrated annually on February 2nd on
this day people use a groundhog to
determine the length of the current
winter season and the possible early
onset of spring this weather prediction
is dependent on the day's conditions six
more weeks of winter are on the way
if sunshine causes the groundhog to see
its shadow and go back into hibernation
six more weeks of winter while clouds
and gray skies prevent the appearance of
the groundhog shadow and result in
Springs speedy arrival the period
between the winter solstice and spring
equinox has been important throughout
history for instance the Celts
anticipated spring by celebrating the
pagan festival of emul some people
believe in mulk then evolved into the
Christian holiday of Candlemas which
celebrates the presentation of Jesus at
the temple and falls on the 2nd of
February it was during the Middle Ages
that Europeans began to rely on the
shadows of hibernating animals as an
indication of incoming weather during
the 17 and 1800's German immigrants
brought this belief to the United States
and selected the groundhog as the chosen
animal in Pennsylvania the first
official celebration of Groundhog Day
occurred in that state city of
Punxsutawney in the late 1880s when
several businessmen and groundhog
hunters of the Punxsutawney groundhog
Club watched the groundhog observing his
shadow though this holiday has since
spread across North America the biggest
annual Groundhog Day celebrations remain
in its place of origin where a groundhog
dubbed Punxsutawney Phil predicts the
weather tens of thousands of people and
countless media outlets visit the city
during early February to participate in
festivities that include music and food
for the actual ceremony Phil is
relocated to gobblers knob by his
handlers made up of a group of top hat
and tuxedo wearing individuals called
the inner circle though the Punxsutawney
groundhog Club maintains that Phil is
right up to 90 percent of the time
studies have shown the number is
actually closer to less than 40 percent
this has done nothing to quell people's
interest and fascination with the
groundhogs forecasts in fact the holiday
was given an even bigger boost following
the successful 1993 comedy Groundhog Day
this is one time where television really
fails to capture the true excitement of
a large squirrel predicting the weather
set in Punxsutawney the film also led to
Groundhog Day being used as an
expression for experiencing situations
over and over again do you ever have
déjà vu mrs. Lancaster I don't think so
but I could check with the kitchen for
movies and TV shows to children's toys
Phil and Groundhog Day have appeared in
pop culture on numerous occasions though
Groundhog Day is mostly observed in
North America other countries practice
similar traditions some american states
use other animals instead of the
groundhog meanwhile the Canadian city of
Wiarton and Ontario is home to a popular
festival based around a groundhog named
Wiarton Willie for more great videos be
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