Difference between revisions of "Groundhog Day" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Lifestyle]]
 
[[Category: Holiday]]
 
{{Infobox Holiday
 
|holiday_name=Groundhog Day
 
|image=Groundhogday2005.jpg
 
|caption=Groundhog Day 2005 in [[Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania|Punxsutawney]], [[Pennsylvania]], USA.
 
|observedby=[[United States]] and [[Canada]]
 
|date=February 2
 
|celebrations= Observing a groundhog emerging from its burrow and seeing whether it sees its shadow, announcing the result of this
 
|type=Cultural
 
|significance=Whether the groundhog sees its shadow or not determines how much longer winter will last
 
}}
 
  
'''Groundhog Day''' is a holiday celebrated in [[United States]] and [[Canada]] on February 2 each year. In [[weather lore]], if a [[groundhog]], also known as a [[woodchuck]] or [[marmot]], emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the [[weather]] is cloudy, winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.
 
 
[[Candlemas]] is usually celebrated on the same day in [[Europe]], and has similar beliefs about the coming weather, making it a possible origin of the holiday in [[North America]].
 
 
==Historical origins==
 
[[Image:DogGroundHog-small.jpg|thumb|230px|right|The [[groundhog]] ''([[Marmota monax]])'' is a rodent of the family [[Sciuridae]], belonging to the group of large [[ground squirrel]]s.]]
 
An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Historical Society of Berks County in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]. In an entry dated February 4, 1841 [[Pennsylvania]] storekeeper James Morris wrote in his diary in [[Morgantown, Pennsylvania|Morgantown]], [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks County]]:
 
<blockquote>Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was [[Candlemas]] day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate. <ref name=stormfax>[http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm Groundhog Day] Stormfax, Inc., 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref> </blockquote>
 
 
The [[legend]] derives from [[poem]]s found in [[Scotland]], [[England]], and [[Germany]], that predict longer or shorter winters depending on the weather on Candlemas Day:
 
<blockquote>
 
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,<br>
 
The half o' winter's to come and mair;<br>
 
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,<br>
 
The half o' winter's gane at Yule.<br><br>
 
 
If Candlemas be fair and bright,<br>
 
Winter has another flight;<br>
 
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,<br>
 
Winter is gone and will not come again.<ref name=walsh/>
 
</blockquote>
 
 
Candlemas, also known as the [[Purification of the Virgin]] or the ''Presentation'', coincides with the earlier [[pagan]] observance [[Imbolc]]. In [[Western world|Western]] countries in the Northern Hemisphere, the official first day of [[spring (season)|spring]] is about six weeks after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or March 21. If the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of winter.
 
 
According to folklore, Germans watched a [[badger]] for his shadow on that day. When they settled in [[Pennsylvania]], the groundhog, which resembles the European [[hedgehog]] and emerges from [[hibernation]] at that time of year, was chosen to replace the badger.<ref name=walsh> William Shepard Walsh, [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=VKwYAAAAIAAJ&dq=Curiosities+of+Popular+Customs+and+of+Rites,+Ceremonies,+Observances,+and+Miscellaneous+Antiquities&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=f04DMIjXP0&sig=DnP76jDyHY5so1vQIamB2rpv4C.E.&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result ''Curiosities of Popular Customs and of Rites, Ceremonies, Observances, and Miscellaneous Antiquities''] (Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1898). Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref> The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The local newspaper, ''The Punxsutawney Spirit'', printed the proclamation "Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow."<ref name=powell>Albrecht Powell, [http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/punxsutawney/a/groundhog_day.htm What in the Heck is Groundhog Day Anyway?], About.com, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
Alternatively, the custom could have been a folk embodiment of the confusion created by the collision of two calendrical systems. Some ancient traditions marked the change of season at [[cross-quarter day]]s such as [[Imbolc]], when daylight first makes significant progress against the night. Other traditions held that spring did not begin until the length of daylight overtook night at the [[Vernal Equinox]]. So an arbiter, such as the groundhog or [[hedgehog]], was incorporated as a yearly custom to settle the two traditions. Sometimes spring begins at Imbolc, and sometimes [[Winter]] lasts six more weeks until the equinox.<ref>Groundhog Day, Margaret Kruesi. ''Journal of American Folklore.'' Washington: Summer 2007. Vol. 120, Iss. 477; pg. 367+</ref>
 
 
Another explanation of the origin of the day is that about 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the [[Gregorian calendar]], the spring [[equinox]] fell on March 16. This was exactly six weeks after February 2. Assuming that the equinox marked the first day of spring in certain [[medieval]] cultures, as it does now in Western countries, Groundhog Day occurred exactly six weeks before spring. Therefore, if the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day there would be six more weeks of winter. If he did not, there would be 42 more days of winter. In other words, the Groundhog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=eFKO9FKPjOwC&pg=PT1&dq=Don+Yoder,+Groundhog+Day,+Stackpole+Books,+2003&sig=kfGnFB091GHrOdoCce77Vr-9cwg ''Groundhog Day''], Don Yoder, Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 0811700291</ref>
 
 
==Famous prognosticators and predictions==
 
Towns throughout North America are known to have winter-predicting groundhogs. The most famous is [[Punxsutawney Phil]] of [[Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania]] (immortalized in the movie ''[[Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day]]''). There is also "Brandon Bob" of Brandon, [[Manitoba]]; "Balzac Billy" in [[Alberta]]; "[[General Beauregard Lee]]" in Lilburn, [[Georgia]]; "Shubenacadie Sam" in [[Nova Scotia]]; "[[Staten Island Chuck]]" in [[New York]]; "Gary the Groundhog" in Kleinburg, [[Ontario]], and "Wiarton Willie" in Ontario, among many others.
 
 
As stated, the appearance of the groundhog's shadow means six more weeks of winter, and no shadow means spring is around the corner.<ref>Jason Patton, [http://www.gojp.com/groundhog/shadow.html The Shadow Report: Whether Punxsutawney Phil Sees or Doesn't See His Shadow]. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref> Groundhog Day proponents state that the rodents' forecasts are 75- to 90-percent accurate. A Canadian study for 13 cities in the past 30 to 40 years puts the success rate level at only 37 percent.<ref>David Phillips, [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC832027 "Groundhog Day,"] ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', Historica Foundation of Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref> The [[National Climatic Data Center]] reportedly has stated that the overall predictions accuracy rate is around 39 percent.<ref>[http://www.petloveshack.com/groundhog.html Groundhog Day], Pet Love Shack. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
===Punxsutawney Phil===
 
[[Punxsutawney Phil]], fully titled "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary," is a [[groundhog]] resident of [[Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=powell/> On February 2, Groundhog Day of each year, the town of Punxsutawney celebrates their beloved groundhog with a festive atmosphere of music and food. During the ceremony, which begins well before the winter sunrise, Phil emerges from his temporary home on Gobbler's Knob, located in a rural area about two miles east of town. According to [[tradition]], if Phil sees his shadow and returns to his hole, the [[United States]] will have six more weeks of [[winter]]. If Phil does not see his shadow, [[spring (season)|spring]] will arrive early. During the rest of the year, Phil lives in the town [[library]] with his "wife" Phyllis.
 
 
A club of Phil enthusiasts, known as the Punxsutawney "Save the Bearded Owls" Club, take care of the famed [[rodent]] year-round. A select group, called the "Inner Circle," plan the annual ceremony. Members of the Inner Circle are recognizable by their top hats and [[tuxedo (clothing)|tuxedo]]s.
 
 
Of the 112 predictions made on record so far, Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring 14 times (13 percent). As to his accuracy, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle, he is 100-percent accurate.
 
 
===Wiarton Willie===
 
[[Image:Writers245.JPG|thumb|200px|Wiarton Willie Statue in Wiarton, Ontario]]
 
'''Wiarton Willie''' is a famous [[Canada|Canadian]] [[groundhog]] who lives in the [[community]] of [[Wiarton, Ontario|Wiarton]] in [[Bruce County, Ontario]]. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival. His role is to predict whether there will be an early [[spring (season)|spring]]. Although the original Wiarton Willie died in 1999, the Wiarton groundhog day celebrations continue each year with the original Willie's successors, referred to as "Wee Willie."<ref>[http://www.southbrucepeninsula.com/index.cfm?page=230&r=65018 "He Cast No Shadow"]. southbrucepeninsula.com. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
The story of Wiarton Willie dates back to 1956. A Wiarton resident named Mac McKenzie wanted to showcase his childhood home to his many friends, so he sent out invitations for a "Groundhog Day" gathering. One of these invitations fell into the hands of a ''[[Toronto Star]]'' reporter. The reporter traveled to Wiarton looking for the Groundhog Day event. None of the townspeople knew about a festival, but one suggested he check at the Arlington Hotel where the reporter found McKenzie and his friends and was invited to join their party. The next day, the reporter lamented to McKenzie that he needed some kind of story to take back to justify his expenses. So McKenzie took his wife's fur hat, went out to the parking lot, dug a burrow in the snow and pronounced a prognostication (which no one remembers). The picture of Mac and the hat ran in the February 3, 1956 edition of the ''Toronto Star''. A year later, about 50 people arrived for the festival. Half were reporters from various media, including the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] and [[Canadian Press]]. Seizing on the opportunity, McKenzie invented a festival that has been added to over the years.<ref>[http://southbrucepeninsula.com/index.cfm?page=254&r=37361 "How the Festival Started,"] southbrucepeninsula.com. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
Groundhog Day in Wiarton has become a major celebration, with [[dance]]s, [[parade]]s, [[ice hockey]] tournaments, [[curling]] bonspiels, [[pancake]] breakfasts, [[darts]], and [[snooker]] tournaments, [[sleigh]] rides, a [[casino|Monte Carlo Night]], and a [[fish fry]].<ref name= Canoe>Jim Fox [http://travel.canoe.ca/Travel/Canada/Ontario/2007/01/27/3474961-sun.html "Waking Wiarton Willie,"] Canoe.ca, February 2, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://southbrucepeninsula.com/index.cfm?page=985&r=37811 Wiarton Willie Festival Events]. southbrucepeninsula.com. Retrieved on: November 3, 2007.</ref> Around 10,000 people are said to attend.
 
 
Wiarton Willie himself is a more recent addition to the festivities. In the early years, prognostication was provided by the "mythical" trio of groundhogs: Grundoon, Muldoon, and Sand Dune. Willie appeared on the scene in the 1980s. He is claimed locally to be accurate in his prognostications around 90 percent of the time, although scientific studies show groundhog predictions to have a success rate of more like 37 percent.<ref name = CBC />
 
 
The original Wiarton Willie lived to the advanced age of 22, and was found dead only two days before Groundhog Day in 1999. The organizers were unable to find a replacement, and instead marked Groundhog Day by revealing "Willie" in a [[coffin]]. He had been dressed in a tuxedo, with coins over his eyes, and a carrot between his paws. A scandal ensued when it transpired that the real Willie had in fact decomposed, and the body in the coffin was that of an older, stuffed groundhog.<ref name = CBC>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/groundhogday/ "What Wiarton Willie sees."] CBC News In Depth: Groundhog Day, February 2, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref> The [[Associated Press]] was obliged to issue a retraction on its wires.<ref>[http://pollenatrix.blogspot.com/2004/05/groundhog-tales.html "Groundhog Tales,"] Pollenatrix, May 27, 2004. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
===Staten Island Chuck===
 
'''Staten Island Chuck''' is a [[groundhog]] who resides in the [[Staten Island Zoo]] in [[Staten Island, New York]] in the [[United States]]. He is noted as the official groundhog [[meteorology|meteorologist]] of [[New York City]] who predicts the duration of winter each February 2 on Groundhog Day. He makes the prediction based on whether or not he sees his shadow at 7:30 a.m. on Groundhog Day. The ceremony at the zoo is often attended and officiated by the [[Mayor]] of New York City.
 
 
The Staten Island Zoo claims that Chuck has correctly predicted the duration of winter over 80 percent of the time since the 1980s.<ref>[http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/its_an_early_spring_staten_isl.html "Staten Island Chuck makes a warm prediction,"] ''Staten Island Advance'', February 02, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
===General Beauregard Lee===
 
'''General Beauregard Lee''' is a groundhog that resides at the [[Yellow River Game Ranch]] in [[Lilburn, Georgia]] just outside of [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]. He has received honorary doctorates from the [[University of Georgia]]—"DWP, Doctor of Weather Prognostication"—and [[Georgia State University]]—"Doctor of Southern Groundology." He has been predicting early springs or late winters for 14 years and the Game Ranch claims a 94 percent accuracy rate.<ref>[http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/bio.htm "Beau's Bio... and more than you ever wanted to know about Groundhog Day!"] Yellow River Game Ranch, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref>
 
 
===Other famous groundhogs===
 
Other groundhogs predicting the length of winter include:
 
*Jimmy the Groundhog of [[Sun Prairie, Wisconsin]], U.S.
 
*Dunkirk Dave in [[Dunkirk, New York]], U.S.
 
*Malverne Mel and Malverne Melissa found in [[Malverne, New York]], U.S.
 
*Brandon Bob of [[Brandon, Manitoba]], Canada.
 
*Balzac Billy of [[Balzac, Alberta]], Canada.
 
*Shubenacadie Sam of [[Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia]], Canada.
 
*Gary the Groundhog of [[Kleinburg, Ontario]], Canada.
 
*Spanish Joe of [[Spanish, Ontario]], Canada.
 
*Sir Walter Wally of [[Raleigh, North Carolina]], U.S.
 
*Pardon Me Pete of [[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.
 
*Octoraro Orphie of [[Quarryville, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
 
*Holtsville Hal of [[Holtsville, New York]], U.S.
 
*Buckeye Chuck of [[Marion, Ohio]], U.S.
 
 
==In fiction==
 
In 1899, members of The Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania composed a song about groundhogs sung to the tune of ''[[The Battle Hymn of the Republic]]'':
 
 
<blockquote>
 
Let the scientific fakirs gnash their teeth and stamp with rage<br>
 
Let astrologers with crystals wipe such nonsense from the page<br>
 
We hail the King of Prophets, who's the world's outstanding Sage<br>
 
TODAY THE GROUNDHOG COMES!<br>
 
Glory! Glory! to the Groundhog,<br>
 
Glory! Glory! to the Groundhog,<br>
 
Glory! Glory! to the Groundhog,<br>
 
TODAY THE PROPHET COMES!<ref>Anthony Aveni, ''The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, ISBN 0195171543), 30-31.</ref>
 
</blockquote>
 
 
The 1993 comedy movie ''[[Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day]]'' takes place in [[Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania]] on Groundhog Day. The main character (played by [[Bill Murray]]) is forced to relive the day over and over again until he can learn to give up his selfishness and become a better person.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/ Groundhog Day (1993)] Retrieved January 22, 2009.</ref> As a result of this movie, in popular culture the phrase "Groundhog Day" has come to represent going through a phenomenon over and over until one spiritually transcends it.<ref>Suzanne Daughton, "The spiritual power of repetitive form: Steps toward transcendence in Groundhog Day," ''Critical Studies in Mass Communication'' 13(2) (Jun 1996): 138.</ref>
 
 
==Similar customs==
 
Aside from the [[Candlemas]] origins of Groundhog Day, some other days are considered predictors of the weather to come.
 
 
In the [[United Kingdom]], July 15 is known as Saint [[Swithun]]'s day. At one time it was believed if it rained on that day, it would rain for the next 40 days and nights. However, since there is very little likelihood of such a protracted period of continual rain, it is more likely that the belief was simply that the ensuing summer would be wetter than average.
 
 
In [[France]] as well as in [[Hungary]], June 8, the feast day of [[Medardus|Saint Médard]] fulfills the same function.<ref>[http://www.aquinasandmore.com/index.cfm/saintName/Medard/fuseaction/store.PatronSaintPage/Saint/313/ St. Medard] Aquinas and More, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009. </ref> Besides Saint Médard, other saints associated with weather prediction included [[Urban of Langres]], and [[Gervasius and Protasius|Saint Gervase and Saint Protais]] (June 19).
 
 
[[Saint Quirinus of Neuss]] in [[Germany]] is a Roman [[martyr]] and saint of the [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches. A [[weather lore|farmers' saying]] associated with Quirinus' feast day of March 30 is ''Wie der Quirin, so der Sommer'' (“As St. Quirinus’ Day goes, so will the summer”).<ref>[http://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienQ/Quirinus_von_Rom_von_Neuss.htm Quirinus von Rom (von Neuss)],
 
Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon, 2000. Retrieved January 23, 2009.</ref>
 
 
Also in Germany, June 27 is ''Siebenschläfertag'' ([[Seven Sleepers Day]]). If it rains that day, the next seven weeks or the rest of summer is supposedly going to be rainy. While it might seem to refer to the ''Siebenschläfer'' [[squirrel]] ([[Glis Glis]]), also known as the "edible dormouse," they day actually commemorates the [[Seven Sleepers of Ephesus]], a [[Christian]] legend dating from around the sixth century. The exact date of this day has been disputed, being affected by the change from the [[Julian calendar]] to the [[Gregorian calendar]], making July 7 the actual Seven Sleepers Day. Based on this date the prediction has a slightly increased probability in the southern parts of Germany not affected by the [[jet stream]].<ref>[http://berlin.barwick.de/blog/german/word-of-the-day/siebenschlaefertag-june-27th.html Siebenschläfertag - June 27th], Penguin's Berlin Guide, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2009.</ref>
 
 
==Notes==
 
<references/>
 
 
==References==
 
*Aaron, Michael A., Brewster B. Boyd, Jr., Melanie J. Curtis, and Paul M. Sommers, [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0746-8342(200101)32%3A1%3C26%3APPP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O "Punxsutawney's Phenomenal Phorecaster,"] ''The College Mathematics Journal'' 32(1) (Jan., 2001): 26-29. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
 
*Cohen, H., and T. P. Coffin. ''The Folklore of American Holidays''. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1987. ISBN 978-0810321267
 
*Old, W. C., and P. Billin-Frye. ''The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun''. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman, 2004. ISBN 978-0807530665
 
*Pulling, A. F. ''Around Punxsutawney''. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2001. ISBN 978-0738505305
 
*Yoder, Don ''Groundhog Day''. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 978-0811700290
 
*Walsh, William Shepard. ''Curiosities of Popular Customs and of Rites, Ceremonies, Observances, and Miscellaneous Antiquities''. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1898. {{OCLC|297296}}
 
*Aveni, Anthony. ''The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN 0195171543
 
 
==External links==
 
*[http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm History of Groundhog Day]
 
*[http://www.gojp.com/groundhog/ Groundhog Day History]
 
*[http://www.groundhog.org/about/predictions.php Punxy Phil's Past Predictions]
 
*[http://www.groundhog.org Groundhog.org], the official site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club
 
*[http://www.punxsutawneyphil.com PunxsutawneyPhil.com]
 
* [http://www.southbrucepeninsula.com/index.cfm?member=willie South Bruce Peninsula Official Homepage - Information about Wiarton Willie]
 
* [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2003/09/23/willie_killer030923.html Wiarton Willie suspected in double murder]
 
*[http://www.statenislandzoo.org/index.asp The Staten Island Zoo where Chuck resides]
 
*[http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/bio.htm Beau's Bio]
 
*Yoder, Don [http://books.google.com/books?id=eFKO9FKPjOwC&pg=PA39-IA1&lpg=PA39-IA1&dq=general+beauregard+lee&source=web&ots=7kEQevXEaX&sig=lkTfOzp55vWo4entjLIuMQMhW2o ''Groundhog Day''.]
 
 
{{US Holidays}}
 
{{Credits|Groundhog_Day|262878889|Punxsutawney_Phil|260261991|Wiarton_Willie|257407201|Staten_Island_Chuck|224886873|General_Beauregard_Lee|250772367}}
 

Revision as of 20:47, 29 January 2009