
This past weekend I celebrated my birthday on Feb. 2.
Although it was exciting celebrating with the important people in my life, I have to admit that my birthday seems quite insignificant in comparison to the little weather-predicting animals that come out of their dens and into the spotlight each year on the same day.
You might even say my birthday was overshadowed by little groundhogs all over. Ha.
Each year on Groundhog Day, groundhogs are said to leave their dens and look for their shadow. If they are said to see their shadow, we are stuck with another six weeks of winter. However, if they donโt see their shadow, then the tradition states that spring will come early.
This seemingly odd tradition is often followed and believed by many; however, seeing as I share my special day with these furry friends, I thought it would be interesting to look into where the time-honoured tradition was first established.
According to James Skidmore, director for the Waterloo Centre for German Studies, Groundhog Day originated in western Pennsylvania. The tradition was likely influenced by Pennsylvania Dutch people who were descendants of German speakers.
โIn Germany, or in Germany-speaking Europe, especially in Catholic parts of that area, the second of February was an important day,โ Skidmore said.
From the Middle Ages up until the twentieth century, Feb. 2 marked a feast day in the church, indicating the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. There was a Jewish purification law for mothers which took place for 40 days after a boy was born.
As such, if you count 40 days from Christmas, this day, known as Candlemas or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, would fall on Feb. 2. The feast day began to be associated with various rhymes which translated to โIf itโs sunny and clear on Candlemas, it will be a long winter. But if it is stormy and snowy, spring is on its way.โ
โIf the badger is sunning itself in Candlemas week, heโll spend the next six weeks in his sett [burrow],โ the rhyme continues.
With Candlemas, many people also began thinking about spring and beginning a new agricultural year. The marking of the new agricultural year meant individuals could begin working in fields and new farm labourer contracts would be negotiated between owners.
Punxsutawney Phil has been giving weather reports on Feb. 2 since 1887. But his job as โthe seer of seersโ โ or so his fans call him โ is year-round. Tourists make their way to Punxsutawney throughout all the seasons to see the groundhog and his wife, allegedly named Phyllis.
โI guess, for whatever reason, people started thinking that if it was nice on Feb. 2 and the weather was mild, that meant there would be more winter and not to be fooled โ thereโs more winter coming,โ Skidmore said.
โBut if the weather was not very good that meant that spring would come early. Itโs counterintuitive but thatโs how people kind of viewed it.โ
With this, those living in German-speaking Europe would keep an eye-out for badgers, indicating that the weather was warm enough for them to leave their den.
โIn Europe, badgers which were fairly common animals. In certain [areas] where Feb. 2 was viewed with this kind of interest, if youโd see badgers coming out of their dens at that time then you might think thatโs a sign of spring โฆ itโs warming up,โ
However, this origin story for Groundhog Day ultimately had to adapt when it came from Europe to America.
โItโs the same idea; badgers arenโt common here but groundhogs are, so I think it has kind of transferred over to that animal, if you will,โ Skidmore said.
And thus, the tradition began in which individuals gather around known groundhogs for the annual weather prognostication. But what is it about these little groundhogs and their weather predictions that has kept the tradition alive and prevalent to this day?
Skidmore attributes the long-lived ritualโs prevalence in todayโs society to the media and marketing efforts.
โI kind of think itโs a media thing and the media has kept it going. I also think places like Punxsutawny really play it up for tourist reasons,โ he said.
In Gobblerโs Knob โ located in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania โ a famous little groundhog named Phil had thousands of visitors. This year, he didnโt disappoint โ the little guy predicted an early spring with no shadow to be seen.
Punxsutawney Phil has been giving weather reports on Feb. 2 since 1887. But his job as โthe seer of seersโ โ or so his fans call him โ is year-round. Tourists make their way to Punxsutawney throughout all the seasons to see the groundhog and his wife, allegedly named Phyllis.
In this way, Groundhog day has largely become a marketing tool for various cities and towns. Various reports state that Philโs weather prognostication has only been accurate 39 per cent of the time; however, that clearly hasnโt shown to turn fans away.
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