Episode 32 - Groundhog Day

We all have favorite holidays.  It seems that each month has its own signature holiday.  One of the favorite for many is Groundhog Day.  

In this episode we'll look at the origin of this day and the story behind the story.

References

Historical Marker Database (https://hmdb.org)

Short Food Blog (https://shortfoodblog.com)

Wikipedia (https:Wikipedia.org)

Mental Bomb (https://mentalbomb.com)

Transcript

Hello Friends,

I’m your host Dave Laton and welcome to Signs of Our Time, Discovering America’s heritage, one sign at a time.

This podcast is designed to provide the story behind the story found on America’s roadside historical signs and markers.  

Holidays come in all shapes, sizes, and significance.  It is usually left up to the individual which holiday they like best.  I like Thanksgiving because it represents giving thanks for blessings and is a wonderful time to get together with family.  Of course, many like Christmas for all the joy of giving and receiving gifts, and of course, remembering the birth of Jesus.  Maybe you like Valentine’s Day as we exchange expressions of love and friendship.  And of course, for many, the most important holiday is their birthday.  

Nestled among the holidays and special days we remember is one that is fun to celebrate.  It’s Ground Hog Day.  This unusual holiday is a favorite in many locations in North America.

You can find several historical markers referring to Groundhog Day. The definitive marker of course is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, home of Punxsutawney Phill. 

Here’s the story behind the story of the favorite holiday for many.

Ground Hog Day is celebrated on February 2nd.  It is famous for being a predictor of how much longer winter weather will last.  

Groundhog Day was brought to the United States by German speaking immigrants.  The first recorded reference to Groundhog Day was in a diary entry by a storekeeper in Morgantown, Pennsylvania in 1841.  The first official celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and is still celebrated there.  

On Groundhog Day, everyone gathers on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney to watch the event.  The custom is to pull a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil from his borrow to see if he sees his shadow.  If he does see his shadow, then we are in for another 6 weeks of winter weather.  Everyone hopes he won’t see his shadow so spring will arrive early.  Of course, the event is televised world-wide.

Legend has it that Phil is over 130 years old.  In reality, he is a succession of other groundhogs.  Each new Phil is introduced as the previous one retires or passes away.

The keepers of Phil are part of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.  The club has been in existence since 1899.  They are responsible to care for Phil and organizing the annual Groundhog Day celebrations. During the year they feed, clean, and ensure the health of Phil throughout the year.  

On Groundhog Day the club members dress up in top hats and coats.  One member removes Phil from his burrow and interprets his weather prediction.  Upon receiving the prediction, another member reads the official proclamation.  Moans or cheers can be heard from the crowd as they react to the prediction.

Just a bit more about the origins of this unusual custom.  As noted, it started with German speaking immigrants to America.  The Germans that started the tradition would observe a bear or a badger coming out of its den.  If it saw its shadow, then they were in for 4 weeks of winter weather, not 6 weeks as it is now.  It is a good thing the tradition changed to a more docile groundhog rather than bears or badgers.  These animals are known for their ill temper.  Add to that, being awakened from a sound sleep will make any of us ill-tempered.

Of course, the question many ask is how accurate is Phil?  According to those that study such things, Phil is accurate about 39% of the time.  Others have found he is correct 28% of the time.  Some would say Phil fits right in with other weather forecasters, many on our local television stations.  

But accuracy is not what is important. What is important is the fun festivities surrounding the event.  

It seems everyone is anxious for the winter to end and the warmth of spring to begin.

Many towns across the United States and Canada celebrate Groundhog Day but have their own locally generated events.  There are often parades, picnics, and other community gatherings. Many people celebrate Groundhog Day by eating German based food and consuming German based adult beverages.  I guess any excuse is as good as another.

And of course, we know about the movie with Bill Murray, named, Groundhog Day.  Many add watching the movie as part of their Groundhog Day celebration.

 Here are some other interesting and fun facts about Groundhog Day.

 There are other groundhogs such as Staten Island Chuck in New York and Wairton Willie in Canada.

Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks

They are members of the squirrel family

They can climb trees and swim

The lifespan of a groundhog is 6 – 8 years

They are also known as whistle pigs because of the sound they make.  They often whistle when they sense danger.

Groundhogs give birth to 2-6 young in the spring.  Groundhog babies are called Kits or cubs.

Whether you believe in Phil’s predictive power or not, Groundhog Day is a fun and festive celebration that has become a mainstay in North American culture.  So go out and have some fun!

Well friends, there you have it.  A story behind the story from America’s historical signs and markers.  I hope you enjoyed this episode.  I invite you to subscribe and continue listening as we bring more episodes about the rich heritage of our great nation.

Please share this podcast with others.  If you have interesting stories about historical signs and markers, email me at: americanhistoricalmarkers@gmail.com.  Maybe your story behind the story will be featured.

 I’m your host Dave Laton and thank you for listening, and safe travels!