What is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog day is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. The idea behind it is the superstition that if a groundhog comes out from his burrow on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. However, if the groundhog does not see his shadow, spring will arrive early. While the tradition is very popular, there is no correlation between a groundhog’s shadow and the appearance of spring.
Where and when did Groundhog Day originate?
The first official Groundhog Day occurred on February 2, 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The idea came from Clymer Freas, who was a newspaper editor. Freas convinced local businessmen and groundhog hunters that this was a good idea. The group of men then met at a site called Gobbler’s Knob. This is where the very first groundhog saw his shadow. Now, every February 2 is known as Groundhog Day.
