2006-09-08 07:21:25 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."
On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.
According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
2006-09-08 07:24:18 · answer #1 · answered by Lady_Mandolin 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's a funny holiday where people go outside on Feb 2nd to see whether or not a groundhog has a shadow. If he has a shadow then it's suppose to mean that we will have 6 more weeks of winter. If there is not shadow then winter will end sooner. I don't know where it all began or how. Some states have special groundhogs that they use just for this purpose.
2006-09-08 07:27:20 · answer #2 · answered by firefly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Groundhog day is nothing more than a way for people to have fun together. Unfortunately, some young people actually believe that the groundhog's actions determine the length of winter. The business community sells a lot of advertising, coffee, hot cocoa and hotel rooms in their town during this day of fun.
2006-09-08 08:38:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's just a silly little custom, not really a holiday. The saying goes that if the groundhog comes out and sees his shadow (ie sunny weather), there will be six more weeks of winter. And of course there will be at least that much of it left, anyway, so it doesn't matter whether it's fair or foul weather that day.
Although in some areas such as the Midwest where I grew up, winter could last well into April.
2006-09-08 07:28:07 · answer #4 · answered by anna 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey don't forget about Alibaster Al in Alabama, the Southern Groundhog
2006-09-08 07:27:45 · answer #5 · answered by Phil P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old wives tale that we... Well, hell. Somebody gave you a history on the holiday above, which was really good, but really, it's not that big a deal here anymore. It's traditional, so it still goes on. I think it may have been a way to guestimate the weather upcoming before we developed meteorological science. It's also just a curiosity thing. Does the groundhog agree with the weathermen? No! Surprise? No! *lol*
2006-09-08 07:28:02 · answer #6 · answered by gilgamesh 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An excuse to party with a groundhog.
2006-09-08 07:26:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the day of the year (Feb 2nd) where people watch the groundhog come out of his hole. If comes out and then quickly goes back in - it is believed that the coming weeks will be cold weather. If he comes out and stays out, it is believed that the coming weeks will be warm weather. Basically, his action tells whether Spring is coming early or late.
I don't think anybody really believes his forecast, but it's a tradition.
2006-09-08 07:31:53 · answer #8 · answered by ManOfTheHour 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's my son's dad's birthday. I used to cry because my son ought to undergo in recommendations his birthday because that's on Groundhog Day. My little boy would call his dad to assert satisfied birthday and his dad would brush him off or no longer answer the telephone. Very unhappy to describe to a 6 year previous why his dad did no longer have time to seek for suggestion from from him. :( tremendous poem BTW.
2016-10-15 23:37:52 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A day where we americans gather around holes, pointy sticks at the ready, and gig groundhogs for BBQ's. Great fun is had by all!
2006-09-08 07:27:17 · answer #10 · answered by da1U<32haT3 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋