The History of Groundhog Day!

~ Natalia Radcliffe ~

Groundhog Day is tomorrow! Will we have more winter weather coming, or will spring be right around the corner? For many years, Americans have rung in the second month of the new year eagerly waiting to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not. So much rides on this one groundhog’s shoulders!

But let’s back up for a moment. How did Groundhog Day come to be in the first place, anyway?

Well, the holiday we now know to be Groundhog Day used to be a Celtic holiday known as Imbolc, which celebrated the coming of spring. Years and years later, as Christianity spread through Europe, Imbolc turned into Candlemas. This Christian holiday celebrated the presentation of Jesus at the holy temple in Jerusalem. In some parts of Europe, Christians believed that if the day was sunny, it meant 40 more days of winter.

Have an idea of where this is going?

The Germans specifically developed their own tradition that stated spring would come sooner rather than later if small animals saw their own shadows. When many German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s and 1800s, they brought this custom with them.

Which animal did they pick to represent this tradition?

A groundhog, of course!

The official holiday didn’t start until February 2, 1887. A local newspaper editor convinced a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters, collectively known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, on the idea. Since then, it’s become a day for millions of people to tune in every year, some wishing for a little more winter, while others hoping for spring to finally be on its way. Today, a group of local dignitaries, known as the Inner Circle, run the event at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania. The ceremony gives people a small glimpse into the past, as the Inner Circle conducts it in the Pennsylvania Dutch Dialect and its members wear top hats, giving a little sense of timelessness to such a well-known holiday.

Here at Prospector Ranch, we don’t mind whether we get a few more weeks of winter or spring. Both seasons are lovely in California, and where we’re located in Westlake Village, our close locality to the ocean makes for mild, beautiful temperatures, perfect for escaping the cold winter that other states experience. So come visit! Whether it’s an event you want to hold, a location for a creative project or our AirBnb vintage 1972 Airstream, we have something for everyone.

Information obtained from:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Groundhog-Day

https://www.history.com/news/groundhog-day-history-and-facts

Groundhog picture in article by offroy66 on Pixabay.com.

Thumbnail: Background picture by giadafrangioni on Pixabay.com.