Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: February 2nd, 2022. It’s crazy today is Groundhog Day and around Noon were supposed to have a Storm hit. I bet you a dollar bill to a ten-dollar bill Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow today. What do you think and why?
On the Modern calendar – February 2th.
On the Julian calendar – February 15th.
I have a question for you. Did you know Candlemas is the last holiday of the Christmas Season? Before you ask me, what Candlemas is. It’s a Christian celebration, or festival, of the Feast of Purification of the Virgin Mary. Candlemas also celebrates the annual blessing of candles used by the church.
About the Feast of Purification:
According to Jewish customs, women were considered “unclean” after the birth of a child. The unclean period lasted 40 days after the birth of a son, and 60 days after the birth of a daughter. During this period, they were not allowed into the temple to worship. At the end of this time, woman was brought to the temple and “purified” in a ceremony. After the birth of Christ, the Virgin Mary was purified on Candlemas or the Feast of Purification.
On Candlemas, candles used during the year are blessed. Did you know in Christian churches, candles represent Jesus Christ as the light, the truth and the way?
Ground Hog Day– February 2nd each year.
Groundhog Day is celebrated in the U.S. each year on February 2nd. On this day in mid-winter, the Groundhog awakens from a long winter’s nap, and the Groundhog goes outside of his den to see if he sees his shadow. This tradition is big, on an otherwise cold and dreary mid-winter’s day.
According to legend, if the Groundhog sees his shadow (a Sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of Winter. Then the Groundhog then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If, however, the Groundhog does not see his shadow (Cloudy days), then the Groundhog plays around outside of his hole for a while. If the Groundhog does not see his shadow, Spring is just around the corner.
The Groundhog’s Day tradition travelled long ways. It comes from German roots. In the early 1800’s, German immigrants to America, brought the tradition of predicting Winter weather on February 2nd. In their native Germany, they used Hedgehogs to predict weather. As they settled in the hills of Pennsylvania, they began the tradition, of using the Groundhog to predict the arrival of Spring. The tradition is based upon Candlemas, the day that is the midpoint between Winter and Spring.
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the site of the annual Groundhog event. Our little rodent friend is called Punxsutawney Phil. Has been making this annual Winter prediction since 1887. There are a few other “predictors” around the Country, but they all pale in comparison to Phil’s ability to predict the remainder of Winter.
Phil sees his shadow about 9 out of 10 times
Other Prognosticators:
Punxsutawney Phil is not the only one to come out on February 2nd to make a prediction on when Winter will be over. But Punxsutawney Phil is by far the best known.
Others include:
- Buckeye Chuck in Ohio
- General Beauregard Lee in Georgia
Did You Know? The town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania holds a Ground Hog Festival every year. But, it isn’t on Ground Hog’s Day on February 2nd. This Ground Hog Festival is held at the end of June, when the Weather is much more pleasant to enjoy an outdoor event.
More on Groundhog’s Day:
Groundhog Day Trivia – fun, facts, and trivia
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
