Groundhog Day is probably more synonymous with the Bill Murray movie of the same name than the actual celebration itself.
But its origins date back to the 1800s in the US when it was brought over from Europe by German immigrants who later became known as Pennsylvanian Dutch.
But what exactly is Groundhog Day, who is Punxsutawny Phil, and does it have anything to do with inexplicably having the same day over and over again?
What is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the US and more recently Canada. During this day, the groundhog Punxsutawny Phil emerges from his burrow to predict what the weather will be like for the rest of winter.
If it is sunny, and Phil sees his shadow, then the superstition goes that the US will have to endure six more weeks of winter. If there is no shadow, then an early spring is on the horizon.
When is Groundhog Day 2018?
Groundhog Day is always on February 2.
What is the history of Groundhog Day?
The ancient German custom of Candlemas, the point midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, is what inspired what we now know as Groundhog Day.
Germans used a badger to predict the weather but when the tradition came to the US, a groundhog was used. German folklore said: ‘If the badger sunbathes during Candlemas week, for four more weeks he will be back in his hole.’
The first official Groundhog Day in the US was in 1887 — though it is thought to have been celebrated before then — when a group of people made the trip to Gobbler’s Knob in Puxsutawny to consult the rodent about the weather. People have been gathering at the same spot ever since.
How is Groundhog Day celebrated?
Just after daybreak on February 2, men wearing top hats and suits pull Punxsutawny Phil from his burrow in front of a crowd of up to 40,000 people, who gather every year to see him predict the weather.
Revelers bear frigid cold temperatures and gather at Gobbler’s Knob from as early as 1am that morning, waiting for the appearance of the furry critter. Back-to-back events take place all through the night which include banquets, a Times Square-esque ‘Phil drop’ at midnight and fireworks. And that’s all before Phil even makes an appearance.
Though it is not an official American holiday, it is largely observed throughout the country and celebrations are common.
Where is Punxsutawney?
Punxsutawney is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, which lies 84 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. It has a population of less than 6,000 and was founded in 1818.
Groundhog Day the movie
Before the 1993 Bill Murray movie was released, only 2,000 people traveled to Punxsutawney every year to join in the celebration. Since then, up to 40,000 people flock to the tiny borough annually.
In the movie, which grossed $70 million, Bill Murray plays a cynical weatherman who is sent to Pennsylvania to report on Groundhog Day for the fourth year in a row.
He and his news team get caught in a blizzard and must stay in town overnight. But when he wakes up the next morning, he discovers it is Groundhog Day again, and he ends up inexplicably living it over and over again, though no one else knows. Andie MacDowell stars as Murray’s love interest and producer Rita.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the film and it will be screened in a number of theaters throughout the US on February 2, as well as a special edition release on Blu-ray in 4K Ultra HD