Groundhog Day History and Facts

Each year, the eyes of the nation turn their attention to a small town northeast of Pittsburgh for one day only. There, a 1.5-mile uphill walk from downtown Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, at a place affectionately known as Gobbler’s Knob, a famous member of the squirrel family arises from a winter of slumber on February 2 to determine how much of the winter season remains.

The origins of Groundhog Day come from the Christian celebration of Candlemas. This day, corresponding to 40 days after Christmas, celebrates the day the infant Jesus was presented in the Jewish temple. February 2 also marks the midpoint of the coldest temperatures in the northern hemisphere. Historically, a rule of thumb stated that to have enough food for livestock, farmers should have half of their stored provisions remaining on Candlemas day.

Groundhog Day Fun Facts
The typical lifespan of an average groundhog is between six and eight years. Phil continues to defy the laws of aging as legend has it that he has been making Groundhog Day appearances since 1887, which puts him somewhere around 129 years old.

Punxsutawney Phil isn’t the only critter in town who predicts the weather. There are at least a dozen others who get lots of attention on Groundhog Day, including Canada’s Wiarton Willie and the late Staten Island Chuck.

In Texas, they run to an armadillo known as “Bee Cave Bob” to find out whether spring is on its way or if winter is staying put.

In Alaska, residents celebrate Groundhog Day by keeping their eyes open for Marty Marmot, a warm-blooded creature resembling a large squirrel.

At 22 inches long and weighing in at 20 pounds, Phil is well above the average length and weight of a groundhog (20 inches and 12-15 pounds).

Gobbler’s Knob sees an uptick in traffic every February 2, as well as a $5 million boost to their economy.

In 1986, Phil traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet President Ronald Reagan, and in 1995, he was a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The tradition of Groundhog Day originated in Germany before settlers brought it to Pennsylvania in the 18th century.

Today, Groundhog Day is formally observed in the U.S. and Canada alone.

Phil is happily settled down with a female groundhog who goes by the name of Phyllis.

Most groundhogs snooze in their burrows from October through March; however, Phil remains active year-round.

Bill Murray played a character in the movie Groundhog Day, where his character named Phil Connors was stuck in a loop of the same day repeatedly for a decade. The movie grossed $70 million in its first run in theaters and has been recognized as one of the 10 best fantasy films of all time by the American Film Institute.

From 1886 to 2022, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow 106 times and hasn’t seen his shadow 20 times. There are no weather predictions recorded for the first 10 years, according to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club data.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the groundhog only has about a 39% accuracy rate.

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Groundhog Day Infographic