Groundhog Day Holiday

P
unxsutawney is a tiny town in the foothills of Western Pennsylvania. It was named by Indians for a vicious sandfly that caused them to avoid the area. In the 1800's, it saw a coal boom and the population swelled to 10,000. It has declined even as its fame grew as the home of the Punxsutawney Groundhog. The legend of the Groundhog as a weather prophet came from Europe, along with the immigrants who worked in the coal mines. As the custom went, an astute local news editor tied the legend to the large number of groundhogs in the area and as they say, a star was born.

Although considered a Northern American holiday by many, Groundhog Day has very deep roots. It evolved out of the the medieval Christian festival of Candlemas which commemorated the purification of Mary after the birth of Christ, and the ancient pagan fertility celebration St. Brigid's Day (St. Bridget's Day).

Candlemas Day and its pagan predecessor St. Brigid's Day fall between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and mark the midpoint of winter.

It was customary for the Europeans to watch for the the hedgehog to come out of hibernation every February 2nd. As the legend goes, if the the hedgehog saw its shadow, there would be six more weeks of winter weather. If not, spring was around the corner. When these immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, the groundhog was simply substituted for the hedgehog.

Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is a rare experience. If you're planning on attending or simply wanting to know more about Gobbler's Knob, the Groundhog Day Celebration and the Schedule of Events, please click here: GROUNDHOG DAY

It's ALL of the above! However, it is not a beaver and therefore cannot chuck wood.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

According to naturalists at Chimney Rock Park in North Carolina, a groundhog could eat about 700 pounds! The information is based on data taken by a wildlife biologist who measured the inside volume of a typical groundhog borrow. He estimated that if wood were exchanged for dirt, that the amount would be roughly 700 pounds! More info can be found here: Frequently Asked Groundhog Questions

Merre asked the following:

Punxsutawney Phil is the greatest! I was wondering if he were single? I heard he was involved with a groundhog named Philamena or Phyllis or something like that. Can you tell me if this is true?

Merre, thank you for your comment and for asking about Punxsutawney Phil's private life. According the the annals, Phil's first wife "Phyllis" died in 1978. Note: Phil is over 120 years old and going strong! His longevitiy and forecasting abilities are a true gift, but I imagine it must be hard on him to watch his beloved mates grow old and die. ~ His current wife is named "Phyllis" (as was his first wife). They are living right in town and are reported to be very happy together.

Spirituality raised the question:

Does the US and Canada REALLY have a national holiday based on whether the weather will be more of winter or not?

Thanks for your question Spirituality! Groundhog Day isn't a national holiday, although it is noted on most of the current US calendars and I believe it's on the Canadian calendars as well. A few years ago it was even written up in the US Congressional Record.*

Groundhog Day is more of a local holiday that's gotten national media attention through the years. It's offbeat and fun, and is a natural "plug-in" for the media weather forecasts.

When the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray was launched, an even brighter spotlight was on Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The year following the launch of the movie saw 40,000 Groundhog Day visitors to the town of Punxsutawney, which has a population between 6,000 and 7,000 people.


*When I inquired more about the significance of this "important historical fact," I was told it it simply meant that someone in Congress thought it was a story of interest.

T
he average groundhog is 17 to 26 inches long and can weigh anywhere from 7 to 14 pounds. Groundhogs are rodents and are members of the squirrel family. They are clean living herbivores. Clover and alfalfa are their favorite foods.

Groundhogs also adore fruits and vegetables, which is why many garden owners refer to them as pests. One reason groundhogs are abundant is that they are immune to the plague and to many diseases. They love cleanliness and their burrows even include bathrooms!

The groundhog typically digs 2 "homes" or burrows every year - one for summer and one for winter. Each groundhog burrow has two or more chambers. One is their sleeping area which they cover in soft grasses, and the other one is used as a bathroom. Some borrows also have a food storage chamber, and an extra escape route in case they need it.The winter burrows often have a chamber for giving birth.

Groundhogs are warm blooded. Hibernation begins in mid October. During hibernation, their temperature drops from 97 degrees Fahrenheit to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. During this period of rest, they take one breath every six minutes. The groundhog's internal clock wakes him up in early February (except for the groundhogs living in colder areas who sleep in until early March). By the time they emerge, they have lost half of their weight.

Groundhogs have a lifespan of three to five years. Punxsutawney Phil is the exception to the rule. He has been forecasting the weather for over 120 years.

Past President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Sam Light, chats with Phil in "Groundhogese" before announcing Phil's forecast to the awaiting world. Photo complements of the Light Family

Customize these cards just the way you want to!

Dress in style with a Groundhog Day Tie or T-Shirt!

Don't settle for something that just says "Happy Groundhog Day!" Instead, spice up the occasion with apparel that tells a story, like these do!

I
t was the late 1800s. The world was different than it is today. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was made up of a group of local hunters and gourmets. Back then the Groundhog was roasted instead of toasted. He was hunted in late summer and on February 2nd, a stag picnic was held consisting of barbecued groundhog, corn on the cob and locally brewed beer.

I managed to dig up a gourmet recipe for Groundhog from one of the early Punxsutawney families. I've been told that groundhog tastes much like rabbit. I revere the Groundhog and I would not eat this cute vegetarian critter, nor would I eat any of his relatives. Still, I post this gourmet recipe for your perusal.
Clean
and dress an 8-10 pound groundhog. Be sure to remove the 7 to 9 white muscle-like sacs that are under the front legs and the small of the back. Cut in serving pieces and soak overnight in salted water.

Boil the cleaned groundhog 1/2 hour in water seasoned with 1 tablespoon wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon soda. Drain well.

Dredge meat in mixture of salt, pepper and paprika. Fry out some bacon and salt pork and sear meat in the rendered fat until it is well browned on all sides. Place meat in roaster with the drippings. Add 2 cloves garlic, 1 chopped onion, 3 tablespoons each chopped parsley, celery and carrots, 6 peppercorns, crushed, 2 cloves, 1 teaspoon thyme and salt to taste. Cover meat with 2 cups red wine and 2 cups beef stock (bouillon).

Roast, covered, 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then reduce heat to 250 degrees Fahrenheit until meat is tender, adding more beef stock as needed to prevent meat from becoming dry. About 1/2 hour before meat is done, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of flour. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Thanks goes to Elaine Light and "Cooking With the Groundhog" for this recipe

Special Groundhog Day Coffee Mugs

GROUNDHOG DAY IS FEBRUARY 2ND. ARE YOU READY?

Customize these Groundhog Day Mousepads!

Add a name or a saying and personalize these mousepads. Make one for yourself and one for a friend. They make great gifts!

Did you know that before there was ever a Groundhog Day, the Europeans thought of the HEDGEHOG as THE weather prognosticator?

It was customary for the Europeans to watch for the hedgehog to come out of hibernation every February 2nd. As the legend goes, if the the hedgehog saw its shadow, there would be six more weeks of winter weather. If not, spring was around the corner. When these immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, the groundhog was simply substituted for the hedgehog.

Ground Hog Day by Andrew Wyeth
Fine Art Print 22" x 22"

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M
y father was President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club before I came into this world. His "reign" was the early 50s until 1975 or 1976. It was the advent of radio and television, and, my father, who loved the attention of an audience and was something of a George Burns character, added the top hat and tails, and demanded that the Groundhog be toasted and never roasted. It helped that the Punxsutawney Groundhog was right about the weather 80% of the time, which was a much higher ratio than the weathermen from Pittsburgh or Philadelphia could claim. Whether it was Phil's prophetic ability to predict the weather or the arthritis in dad's big toe, it worked.  (My mother had been a reporter for the Associate Press and she covered the story for the newspapers. She was originally from Pittsburgh, PA, much like the character played by Bill Murray in the movie.)