First lets look at the history of Groundhog Day. Where did it begin? Why do we continue this tradition?
It all started way back when early Christians in Europe celebrated a day known as Candlemas Day. This is when the clergy would bless candles and distribute them to people all around the community. The candles would represent how much longer Winter would last. Clergy would determine this based on what conditions looked like that day. For example, if it was a clear and dry day then winter would last longer; if it was cloudy and rainy, then spring would come early.
Germans continued this tradition, but decided to elect an animal to predict the weather instead of using a candle. They chose the hedgehog, which was later changed to the groundhog, because groundhogs were more plentiful in Pennsylvania where many Germans settled in the U.S. The groundhog eventually was named Punxsutawney Phil, from the name of the town Punxsutawney, Pa.
Not only is the beginning of February the “heart of winter,” but is also the time of year when male groundhogs come out of hibernation to look for a mate. It’s no accident that February 2 happens about six weeks before the official start of spring; and all of these factors combined to solidify February 2 as Groundhog Day.
How accurate is that groundhog? Phil predicts a longer winter about 87% of the time. His track record has him at about a 39% accuracy. So, although it is a fun tradition, I wouldn’t take Phil’s forecast to heart.
Meteorologist Kelsey Woodard
