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Are we prepared for a longer winter? We could soon find out. Well, if you believe Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction.
Groundhog Day is right around the corner and the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil are getting ready for his big day on the first Friday in February this year.
Punxsutawney Phil will take a look around, and if he sees his shadow, we could have six more weeks of winter, but if he doesn’t, we’ll see spring a little sooner.
Here’s when it is and how we came to have Groundhog Day.
When is Groundhog Day 2024?
Groundhog Day is Friday, February 2, 2024.
It may not be a federal holiday, but people across the US tune in to see if Phil, or their own local groundhog celebrity, sees his shadow every year on the same day, February 2nd. If you see his shadow, it predicts six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, it’s an early spring forecast.
What is Groundhog Day?
Following the American tradition of Groundhog Day, the country’s best-known groundhog takes a stance on the upcoming season.
The largest celebration occurs in Pennsylvania. Every year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Gobbler Knob becomes a hive of activity for those wondering if winter will last a few more weeks. The celebration is free and spectators can enter the venue starting at 3 a.m. ET. He Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrates with talent shows, banquets, and pre-show performances, and then, the prediction.
When was Groundhog Day first celebrated?
The first Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2, 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, according to to Historia.com.
The tradition has roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candelaria when the clergy would bless and distribute the candles needed for the winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be.
The Germans expanded the tradition by selecting an animal to help predict the weather. But now it was not the groundhog that was used, but the hedgehog. After arriving in the United States, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition and switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were abundant in the state.
How often is Punxsutawney Phil right?
Well, while groundhog predictions are a lot of fun, they are rarely correct.
Punxsutawney Phil has been correct 39% of the time since the tradition began in 1887. according to the Stormfax Weather Almanac. Phil has seen his shadow more times than not and predicted a longer winter 107 (84%) times. USA Today compiled all of his results since 1887:
- Sierra shadow (six more weeks of winter): 107
- No shade (early spring): 19
- Partial shade: 1
- No registration: 10
- Did not appear: 1
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