Groundhog Day Facts

Groundhog Day is an especially special day for me, because it's also my birthday! Yep. I'm a groundhog baby. Therefor, I've always been a bit more interested in the holiday events than what you might otherwise find.

Groundhog day is celebrated yearly in the United States and Canada. This day, which falls on February 2nd each year, is celebrated by watching a groundhog emerge from his burrow. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow there will be six more weeks of winter and he will retreat to his burrow. However, if the groundhog fails to see his shadow, winter will soon end and the groundhog leaves his hole.

History of Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day stems from ancient European weather lore. The day also has some similarities to a medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas and the Pagan festival of Imbolc.

What are some Groundhog Day activities for kids?

• Create a Groundhog out of construction paper and googly eyes.
• Buy a Groundhog hand puppet and create your own Punxsutawney.
• Have the kids guess whether the groundhog will see his shadow or not and give out candies to the winners.

What Pennsylvania town is linked to Groundhog Day?
Punxsutawney holds the largest Groundhog Day celebration with crowds as high as 40,000. Nonetheless, many other towns across the United States and Canada also celebrate the holiday the same way.

What is the famous Groundhog's name?
The famous Groundhog is named Punxsutawney Phil and was featured in the 1993 film, Groundhog Day.

Groundhog facts

What does a groundhog eat?
They are mainly herbivores which eat wild grasses, berries, and agricultural vegetation if available.

What does a groundhog look like?
A groundhog is 40-65cm long with a 15cm tail and weighs 2-4 kg.

There you have it! Hopefully you enjoyed these little facts about one of my favorite holidays, Groundhog Day.