Celebrate Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd in the United States and Canada.

The legend says that if the groundhog comes out of it's burrow and doesn't see it's shadow, it will leave the burrow which means that winter will soon end. If the groundhog does see it's shadow, it returns to the burrow which signals 6 more weeks of winter.

Much of the groundhog tradition in the United States is deep rooted in Pennsylvania. The most famous of all groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow to an audience of about 40,000 visitors annually. It is believed that the commemoration of the holiday in Punxsutawney originated around 1886.

The University of Dallas in Irving,Texas has taken Groundhog Day as its official university holiday and organizes a large-scale celebration every year in honor of the Groundhog

Although Groundhog Day is not a major holiday in the United States, it's received more recognition since the debut of the film Groundhog Day which was set in Punxsutawney and starred Bill Murray. It was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois and featured Punxsutawney Phil.

The Groundhog Day say that the groundhog's predictions based on whether he came out of the burrow or retreated have been accurate from as little as 75% to as much as 90%. However, a study in done in Canada puts that accuracy rate at as low as 39% for the past 30-40 years.

The groundhog was actually the narrator (voiced by Buddy Hackett) in the Rankin-Bass Christmas Special entitled Jack Frost. In that story, Jack Frost casts his own shadow on the groundhog so that there will be 6 more weeks of winter only to have it revealed later that the groundhog is telling the story.

The Groundhog is actually a member of the rodent and marmot families. It's official name is Marmota monax and it is also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig and land-beaver.

In New Jersey where I grew up, we referred to them as woodchucks. A woodchuck is actually considered a large land squirrel.

Most of these animals can be found in North America and it's highest population is in the Northeastern and Central United States although they have been spotted as far north as Alaska and as far south as Alabama. From personal experience, the furthest south I've seen a woodchuck or groundhog is while traveling in Central Tennessee. We do not have any woodchucks or groundhogs where I live in Florida making it a thrilling sight for my young son.

Groundhogs actually have two coats - a thick gray undercoat and then over it a longer coat of banded guard hairs.

Groundhogs are herbivores meaning their diet consists of plants. Groundhogs primarily eat grasses, plants, berries and sometimes even agricultural crops when available. As a child in Northern New Jersey, I remember "Chucky", the ever-pesty woodchuck who made his home in a drain pipe at the end of our street. He often dined on my mother's vegetable garden, much to her chagrin.

Groundhogs also eat insects.

Groundhogs are short-limbed but with sharp, powerful claws suited for digging and burrowing. They are of the rodent family and actually have a curved spine like a mole.

Groundhogs hibernate during the winter months and build burrows for sleeping and protection of their young. Groundhogs can build intricate deep and wide burrows with numerous entrances and exits for escape from predators. As such, groundhogs can present a problem when burrowing in areas of agriculture.

Groundhogs are very adaptable despite their short and stocky appearance. They are great tree climbers but also accomplished swimmers.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? The name woodchuck actually has nothing to do with wood or chucking as it might indicate in the famous tongue-twister. The name woodchuck actually has it's roots in the language of the Algonquin Indian who called it a wuchak.

If you know anything about Groundhog Day, you know it's most famous star is Punxsutawney Phil who makes his way out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob every year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

The legend is that if Phil emerges and sees his shadow, he returns to his burrow and the United States will have 6 more weeks of winter.

According to everything I've read, Punxsutawney Phil is actually a city-dweller other than around the celebration of Groundhog Day and resides in the town library with his wife groundhog Phyllis. The "Inner Circle" is a group in the local area who are actually Phil's caretakers and sponsors the annual Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney which attracts 40,000 or so visitors every year.

Folklore says there is only one Phil. That all of the rest of the groundhog weathermen are not the "real" Phil and that he actually has been predicting the end of winter and oncome of spring for 120+ years. This legend is despite the average life span of a groundhog being 2-6 years or so. Their maximum life span on record is about 10 years.

The story the Groundhog Club tells is that during the summer months. Phil drinks a mysterious Groundhog Punch that extends his life span 7 more years every time he indulges.

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club sticks to their story that Phil has been 100% accurate in his predictions.

While we will offer many free things to celebrate Groundhog Day, the other items we highlight for sale on this lens donate to The Squidoo Charity Fund. You are getting some Groundhog Fun while supporting a great cause too!

The movie by the holiday's title, Groundhog Day was made in 1993. The story itself was written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin and was based on a story Danny Rubin has written. It debuted on the big screen as directed by Harold Ramis.

The main stars of the movie were Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It was a comedy where Bill Murray plays a selfish and self-centered television meteorologist named Phil Connors. Despite being as he thinks an accomplished weatherman, he is assigned to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities in Puxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Things go awry which adds to the comedic fun. He finds himself repeating this same day over and over again. It makes him crazy and at times almost suicidal. In the end, Bill Murray's character Phil winds up taking a long hard look at his life and priorities and the experience changes him. In the end, there is a romantic spark between Bill Murray's character and Andie MacDowell's who co-stars as his producer Rita.

After looping through the events of Groundhog Day, February 2nd, he becomes a changed man and time moves forward to February 3rd.

Many watch the movie Groundhog Day in celebration of the holiday. But what else to do for young and old alike to keep the Groundhog Day tradition alive and have some fun?

I have provided a lot of links to coloring pages, games, activities, puzzle pages, crafts and even some recipes to cook up some Groundhog Day related treats. There are also some great books on the subject I have highlighted and even some ideas for teachers, Moms and homeschoolers.

Whatever your plans on February 2nd, stir up a little Groundhog Day fun on me! Have fun!

Fear not, Webkinz fans! There is even a way to celebrate Groundhog Day in Webkinz World!

My son is a big Webkinz fan as are many children out there. Webkinz has it's own resident Groundhog and you can adopt one in Webkinz world and have fun!