David Mowery: Groundhog Day tradition endures

David Mowery, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·3 min read

Feb. 2—It might seem that every day for nearly the past two years has been Groundhog Day.

The ups and downs of the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020 have locked many into a rut of the same-old routines.

But today is truly Groundhog Day. It's the day many turn their attention to that furry critter in western Pennsylvania that mystically predicts the remaining length of our winter.

You know how it works.

Punxsutawney Phil pops from his Gobbler's Knob burrow at 7:28 a.m., looks around for his shadow and declares — through his handlers, of course — that we have to endure six more weeks of winter or that spring is not that far off.

The history

According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website, the Christian observance of Candlemas Day is most commonly associated with the modern celebration.

On Feb. 2, Christians took candles to the church to be blessed, believing this would bring blessings to their homes for the rest of winter.

At some point, the club says, weather came into the picture, as this English folk song highlights:

"If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Come, Winter, have another flight;

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Go Winter, and come not again."

When this tradition took root in Germany, the Germans introduced animals into the lore, the club says.

The Germans believed there would be six more weeks of bad weather if the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day.

The tradition traveled with the Germans as they settled in these parts. But there weren't any hedgehogs in the U.S., so the Germans picked the groundhog as a substitute.

First celebration

In Punxsutawney, the first time Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper was 1886.

And the first official gathering at Gobbler's Knob came the following year, the club says.

Want to watch

This year's festivities return to an in-person event after last year's virtual celebration.

You can watch the prognostication on PCN on TV or its website starting at 6 a.m.

Live streaming is available at the Visit PA website and YouTube channel starting at 7:15.

Phil's highlights

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website lists the following among Phil's highlights:

— During Prohibition Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn't allowed a drink.

— In 1958, Phil announced it was a "United States Chucknik," rather than a Soviet Sputnik or Muttnik that became the first man-made satellite to orbit Earth.

— In 1981, Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

— In 1986, Phil traveled to Washington to meet with President Ronald Reagan.

— In 1987, Phil met Gov. Dick Thornburg.

— In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray.

— In 1995, Phil appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show."

— In 1996, Sega donated $10,000 to the Groundhog Club as Punxsutawney helped promote the company's newest game at the time, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3."

— In 1998, Groundhog Day was first broadcast live worldwide via the internet.

— In 2001, Phil's prediction was shown live on the JumboTron at Times Square in New York.

— In 2015, Punxsutawney and members of the Inner Circle traveled to Indianapolis to participate in the March Madness college basketball bracket picking challenge against announcer Dick Vitale.