Tradition continues despite pandemic
National Groundhog Day – February 2
The weather around the country might be determined here.
The crowds won’t be gathering around Punxsutawney Phil’s burrow this February 2, but the annual observation will be shared virtually.
On National Groundhog Day, in the city of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it has been a tradition for a groundhog to poke his head out of his hole on the morning of February 2. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Considering the fact that the groundhog comes out of his hole at around sunrise, if the weather is clear enough, he is likely to see his shadow. Some people make predictions about whether or not he will. What would your prediction be?
According to National Day Calendar, this tradition has actually been going on in America since 1841, but the groundhog has been replaced several times over the years. Before the United States took over this experience, there was something similar in Germany. For them, the animal of choice was the hedgehog.
In 1993, the movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, became the go-to movie for this holiday. You can celebrate by watching that movie, checking the Farmer’s Almanac to see if it was accurate or ending your social media posts with #NationalGroundhogDay.
