On February 2 each year, Groundhog Day was celebrated in the United States and Canada. Vacation begins as usual in Germany southeastern Pennsylvania and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, and rooted in the knowledge of ancient European weather, where fox or bear the sacred is observed as a prediction rather than Groundhog.
Groundhog Day
According to legend, if the Groundhog emerged from the burrow on this day and fails to see shadow, he will leave the burrow, which marks the end of winter. But if the Groundhog saw his shadow, the Groundhog will retreat into the burrow, and winter is said to continue for six weeks.
Groundhog Day holiday which is similar to the medieval Catholic holiday Candlemas and the Pagan festival of Imbolc, which is a seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, celebrated on February 1 and also involves the weather forecast. Weather forecast is also known as divination. Candlemas is also known as the Purification of the Virgin or the Presentation, which coincides with pagan worship before Imbolc.
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has the largest celebration of Groundhog Day, with people turning in thousands to celebrate the holiday at least since 1886. Groundhog Day was made globally famous since the release of the 1993 film of the same name.
One of the earliest known American reference to Groundhog Day is from a diary by a Berks County, Pennsylvania shop owner James Morris, who dated February 5, 1841. Groundhog Day is the first in the United States may be celebrated in the same period.
The tradition in Scotland can also be derived from ancient English poetry:
When the light grows longer grows stronger If Candlemas fair cold and sunny winter will have another flight If Candlemas be cloud and rain Winter will leave and not come again A farmer should on Candlemas day has been half corn and half hay On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop you can be sure of a good nut crop
In Germany, there is the same tradition on June 27, known as "Siebenschläfertag" or Day Maxalmena. In the United Kingdom, July 15, known as St Swithun days. In Alaska, February 2, is observed as the Day of Marmot because the state has very little groundhogs.
Groundhog's most famous in America is the Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, he is 100% accurate.
