Happy Groundhog Day!
Today is Groundhog's Day and Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter! How did Groundhog Day start? Why the Groundhog you ask? According to the book Holiday Symbols and Customs Groundhog Day originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch who brought the custom with them from Germany to America. From these settlers there is a club in Pennsylvania devoted just to Punxsutawney Phil. Hope you enjoy your six more weeks of Winter!
Comments
I'm curious about the start of Groundhog Day because I was married on February 2nd, 1952, and neither my husband nor I had ever heard of it. Years later our children brought it to our attention; they thought it was hilarious that we had chosen that day on which to get married.
Perhaps I have the whole premise wrong...maybe it had been around 'forever', but wasn't well-known until someone in Punxitawny decided that they could make some money by publicizing it.
Posted by: A. H. Kalt | February 2, 2007 12:03 AM
It looks like Ground Hog's Day dates back to the fifth century, but the first one occurred in America in 1841 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_Hog%27s_Day
Posted by: Kolene | February 2, 2007 09:33 AM