History Of Groundhog Day Celebration

Based on a five-second woodchuck encounter, the history of Groundhog Day celebration is filled with fact, folklore and fiction. Each year, February 2nd marks the celebration of a humorous holiday which grew out of a mid-19th century attempt to forecast the weather. Legend has it that on the second of February, groundhogs emerge from cozy burrows beneath the ground to see if they can catch a glimpse of their shadow. If the marmot sees its shadow, he scurries back into the burrow to hibernate for another six weeks. But if the shadow eludes the marmot, it stays out and winter is predicted to soon end. While most two-legged weather forecasters would scoff at using fat furry hedge hogs to predict how long winter will last, hundreds of thousands of celebrants in the United States and Canada swear by the practice of groundhog shadow watching.

The history of Groundhog Day celebration was first referenced on February 4, 1841 in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. Apparently, James Morris, a Morgantown storekeeper, penned an account of Groundhog Day predictions, crediting German immigrants with what seemed like a tall tale. Mr. Morris' handwritten diary became part of historical records preserved at the Historical Society of Berks County, located in Reading, Pennsylvania. Nearly 170 years later, Groundhog Day has developed almost a cult following across the United States and throughout Canada. Nearly 20 woodchucks have laid claim to fame by predicting the end or continuation of winter in both countries.

The fact of the matter is that February 2nd comes six weeks prior to the beginning of spring, usually March 21st. The third week in March falls on the spring equinox, the exact moment when the center of the sun aligns with the center of the celestial equator. The effect of the spring equinox is that both day and night are of equal length. Six weeks prior to the spring equinox, winter is nearing an end and the skies are cloudier. As the history of Groundhog Day celebration attests, overcast clouds prevent the groundhog from seeing his shadow. The hedgehog stays out and six weeks later, spring appears, just as the wooly woodchuck had predicted. While some individuals take heed to watching groundhogs to determine weather predictions, God is concerned that men take heed to the spiritual signs that signal the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. "The Pharisees also with the Saducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Matthew 16:1-3). We cannot afford to be so caught up in temporal things that we forget to prepare for eternity.

For some, Groundhog Day celebrations and shadow watching are serious business. Usually officiated by a governing board or commissioner to conduct the actual shadow sighting, the day begins with crowds assembling near the groundhog's place of residence. Weeks prior, hedgehog burrows are located and an appropriate name assigned to the central figure in a cast of two. To date, the history of Groundhog Day celebration has failed to reveal an instance where the hairy mammal's shadow was named. However, the weather-predicting marmot usually bears a nickname based on his origins. Punxsutawney Phil was found in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 2007, preceded by a long line of four-legged weather rodents. Wiarton Willie hailed from Wiarton, Ontario in Canada; General Beaureard Lee, Ph. D., found in Atlanta, Georgia, had the distinction of being named for the famous Confederate general. Staten Island Chuck was called into service in New York City, New York. But, famous hedgehogs are not just males. Malverne, New York produced a groundhog couple, Malverne Mel and Malverne Melissa, to predict whether the Empire State would see another six weeks of frigid temps.

Celebrants of this February 2nd holiday are fond of not only dressing up as groundhogs, but sending weather predictions and greetings to family, friends, business associates, and anyone interested in keeping the tradition alive. Free Groundhog Day e-cards have become a popular and cost-free way to bring a little levity into the lives of celebrants and recipients. E-cards are light hearted, digitally designed video images which can be sent via email to hundreds of recipients at a time or to a sole celebrant. Senders make selections by logging onto e-card publisher websites and previewing animated clips of several no- or low-cost cards. Free Groundhog Day e-cards can be personalized with the sender's text and photos, or created by the sender using an online template. Colorful, animated cartoons of goofy groundhogs dressed in black tie and tails, emerging from burrows, or posing as weathermen are all meant to bring a laugh and a remembrance of the holiday. Some free Groundhog Day e-cards not only include Flash animation graphics, but interactive games which can be played by the recipient using the arrow keys and space bar on a PC keyboard. E-cards send to recipients are actually digital links to e-card publisher websites. When a recipient opens the email, the link connects them to the publisher site and the original graphic can be viewed, or electronically manipulated in the case of e-cards with interactive games. On February 2nd, regardless of whether Mr. Groundhog sees his shadow or not, sending free Groundhog Day e-cards is always a great way to celebrate this whimsical holiday.

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