In fact, many old proverbs draw links between the length of winter and the weather conditions that occur on this particular date. In Scotland, there was an old saying that “If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, There’ll be twa [two] winters in the year.” In England, an old song elaborates on this idea: “If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887. The Groundhog Day ritual may have something to do with Feb. 2 landing midway between winter solstice and spring equinox, but no one knows for sure. Meteorological data from 13 Canadian cities over the past 30 to 40 years indicate that there have been an equal number of sunny and cloudy days on 2 February. Canada and US Flavor Groundhog Day Postcard Set Birthday Mailing Thanks Greeting Card. Phillips, David, and Laura Neilson Bonikowsky . Tu B’Shevat is known as the “New Year for Trees”, is a Jewish festival that marks the start of a new cycle for the tithe on fruit trees. Groundhog Day A narcissistic TV weatherman, along with his attractive-but-distant producer and mawkish cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over. In the United States the most popular event occurs in Pennsylvania and centers on a groundhog designated Punxsutawney Phil. The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day has begun with one of Canada's best known shadow-casting critters signalling a long cold winter ahead. The trail is ½ Mile in length with informational and educational signage as well as Metal Art Displays. Over time, Groundhog Day has become a fun way to anticipate the coming of spring. Since weather conditions often last several days, those on 2 February could continue to last for a few days (although not necessarily much longer than that). See how this holiday started and what it all means! However, the groundhog emerges from hibernation later than the European hedgehog, and it is much less likely to stir, even on warm winter days. Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on January 31, 2013: I remember this hub and had to come back and re-visit it and share it.. Legend has it that watching a groundhog emerge from its burrow can determine the weather forecast for the coming weeks. They watched the badger to know when to plant their crops. There is a festival in Wiarton, Bruce County, Ontario, where the town groundhog, Wiarton Willie, delivers his “prediction” early in the morning on February 2 every year. Tradition claims that on February 2nd the groundhog will poke its head out of its burrow. It is the site of the annual Groundhog Day celebration and where Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction every February 2nd. The celebration also falls halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox. Meteorological data from 13 Canadian cities over the past 30 to 40 years indicate that there have been an equal number of sunny and cloudy days on 2 February. More. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way. The February Full Moon is named after the snow on the ground. If it is frightened by its shadow, the groundhog will return to the burrow for 6 … If he doesn't, spring is just around the corner. Groundhog Day is growing more and more popular in Canada. It became one of the largest winter festivals in Bruce County, Canada. It falls on Sunday, February 2, 2020 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in Canada. Balzac, Alberta. Supposedly, if the Pennsylvanian groundhog sees his shadow, North America can expect six more weeks of winter. According to American folk tradition, February 2 nd is the day designated for the groundhog to awake from its hibernation and venture outside. During this period, the groundhogs’ predictions were correct only 37 per cent of the time, meaning that winters remained cold for several weeks after the groundhog saw its shadow on 2 February, or that temperatures became much milder than usual if that day was too cloudy for a shadow to be seen. Thousands of visitors come to Gobbler’s Knob on Groundhog Day as well as throughout the rest of the year. If the weather is cloudy and the groundhog does not see its shadow, it stays outside, meaning that the worst of winter is over and spring will soon arrive. According to European beliefs, spring’s arrival could be predicted based on the awakening of such animals. Shubenacadie Sam lives in Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park and does not hibernate during the winter in order to put on a better show for tourists. Other groundhogs across Canada play meteorologist as well, including Balzac Billy in Alberta, Brandon Bob and Winnipeg Willow in Manitoba, Gary the Groundhog (Kleinburg) and Oil Springs Ollie in Ontario, Fred la marmotte (Val d’Espoir) in Québec, and Two Rivers Tunnel (Cape Breton Island) and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia. We diligently research and continuously update our holiday dates and information. In North America, the tradition of predicting the weather by watching groundhogs come out of their burrows dates back to 1887 and is attributed to German settlers in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On Sunday, (February 2), the US and Canada marked Groundhog Day, an annual tradition in which a groundhog predicts whether winter will continue or give way to spring soon. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter. Other groundhogs include: Gary the Groundhog in Ontario, Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Balzac Billy in Alberta. Since 2014, Toronto also has its own furry meteorologist, Dundas Donna, a South American coati (Nasua nasua). However, the groundhogs’ predictions were incorrect about two thirds of those years, either because they were the opposite of what they should have been, or because winter persisted naturally. Phillips, D.,, & Bonikowsky, L., Groundhog Day in Canada (2017). Record-smashing cold. Shubenacadie Sam lives in Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park and does not hibernate during the winter in order to put on a better show for tourists. Groundhog Day is considered a traditional national holiday in Canada and the … Groundhog Day, in the United States and Canada, day (February 2) on which the emergence of the groundhog from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks. The film's plot added new meaning to “Groundhog Day” as something that repeats itself endlessly. The day of 2 February corresponds with Candlemas, a Christian festival (see religious festivals) during which candles are lit, hence the celebration’s name. By Radio Canada International | english@rcinet.ca Posted: Friday, February 2, 2018 09:23 Last Updated: Friday, February 2, 2018 10:34 However, areas around parks and some streets may be busy or congested in towns where Groundhog Day events are popular. The origins of Groundhog Day date back to medieval Europe. The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day saw Canada’s best-known shadow-casting critters divided in their weather predictions on Sunday. It is said that Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) was named after King Phillip. Groundhog Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States every year on 2 February. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festival grew as Willie’s fame increased. How does groundhog day work? Groundhog Day is also known as Daks Day in Nova Scotia, Canada. 79. However, Canadian meteorological data prove that the groundhogs’ success rate is quite low. During this period, the groundhogs’ predictions were correct only 37 per cent of the time, meaning that winters remained cold for several weeks after th… 208 likes. Historic snowfall. The Groundhog Day ritual may have something to do with Feb. 2 landing midway between winter solstice and spring equinox, but no one knows for sure. He was called Br'er Groundhog prior to being known as Phil. The movie “Groundhog Day” from 1993, starring comedian Bill Murray, made Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania famous worldwide. Today, the town hosts a week-long festival, in which all eyes are on the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. However, there is a kernel of truth to the shadow aspect of the legend. 5.0 out of 5 stars 3. Every February 2, tens of thousands of spectators attend Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney, a borough that’s home to some 6,000 people. Day of the Crêpe is a uniquely French holiday that accompanies the Catholic holiday of Candlemas. Even North American regions without mascots celebrate Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day Celebrations in Canada. Living on the east coast, Sam is the first rodent to make a prediction in Canada on Groundhog Day. If you find a mistake, please let us know. Birthday Groundhog Day 2020 Woodchuck Groundhog Lovers Gift Premium T-Shirt. Canadian winters are much longer and more intense than those in Europe. As winter food stores got low, the first European settlers hoped that spring would arrive early so they could sow earlier and therefore harvest earlier. Canada. In, Phillips, David, and Laura Neilson Bonikowsky, "Groundhog Day in Canada". Winter has been in high gear for the first month of 2020 across much of Canada, and that has many Canadians asking an age-old question: Since the 5th century, 2 February has been used to mark the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple 40 days after his birth, a date that was chosen in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Toronto, ON Canada… The January Full Moon is named after howling wolves. It appears that European settlers (particularly Germans) brought this belief with them to North America and relied on the marmot, one of the most widespread hibernating animals, to predict whether prolonged winter conditions or spring warming lay in store. For example, Shubenacadie Sam is reportedly the first groundhog in the country to stick its head out on Groundhog Day. Accordingly, if it is a sunny day and the groundhog sees its shadow, it goes back to sleep for six more weeks of winter. Since 2014, also has its own furry meteorologist, Dundas Donna, a South American coati (. $3.79 $ 3. In some cultures, it was known as Old Moon, Ice Moon, Snow Moon, and the Moon after Yule. Feb. 2nd, 2020. There are also other groundhogs in different parts of Canada. It dates back to pagan times, when farmers would purify their land by carrying torches in procession before sowing time. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; but if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others called it the Storm Moon. Groundhog DayCheck out Canada's furriest weather forecaster. Some Christian churches also celebrate Candlemas on this day, while others use Groundhog Day to take down their Christmas decorations. Groundhog Day organizers maintain that the rodents’ predictions are accurate 75 to 90 per cent of the time. Thousands of years ago when animalism and nature worship were prevalent, people in the part of Europe where Germany is today, believed that the badger had the power to predict the coming of spring. The phenomenon was immortalized in the American film Groundhog Day, which features Bill Murray as an arrogant meteorologist who is forced to live out the same day for the rest of his life. Other groundhogs across Canada play meteorologist as well, including Balzac Billy in, ) and Oil Springs Ollie in Ontario, Fred la marmotte (Val d’Espoir) in. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. Groundhog Day definition: (in the US and Canada ) February 2nd, when, according to tradition , the groundhog... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples The event attracts thousands of curious onlookers, and is followed by activities including a parade, hockey and curling tournaments, dances, and even a pancake breakfast as celebrants of Candlemas would have done. Many Canadians celebrate Groundhog Day. The groundhog attracts media attention on Groundhog Day in Canada. The Groundhog Day concept first became popular in Canada in 1956 when Wiarton Willie became a household name for his early February weather predictions. Like Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie is not a wild groundhog. Canada also celebrates Groundhog Day, as well as other places throughout the world. It’s Groundhog Day in Canada. Shubenacadie Sam is one of the most famous of Canadian groundhogs. On Groundhog Day, Canada's Wiarton Willie Called Early Spring, Shubenacadie Sam Says More Winter But Punxsutawney Phil could be the tiebreaker. The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day saw Canada's best-known shadow-casting critters divided in their weather predictions on Sunday. $12.59 $ 12. The movie “Groundhog Day” from 1993, starring comedian Bill Murray, made the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania famous worldwide. © Time and Date AS 1995–2020. In winter, sunny days are usually associated with Arctic air, which is colder and drier, while cloudy days are associated with coastal air, which is milder and more humid. The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day saw Canada’s best-known shadow-casting critters divided in their weather predictions on Sunday. The entrances to groundhogs’ burrows are also usually covered in thick layers of snow and ice in early February. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again.”. In Canada, Wiarton Willie — an albino rodent from Wiarton, Ontario, on the Bruce Peninsula (see Georgian Bay) — is the most famous groundhog and has been predicting the weather since 1956. Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the United States in the 1800s. Every year Canada celebrates Groundhog Day on February 2 This tradition was brought over to North America, predominantly to Pennsylvania in the United States, where it was the groundhog, not the badger, which made these “predictions”. Phillips, David and Laura Neilson Bonikowsky. The film's plot added new meaning to the term “… Toll-free (Canada … "Groundhog Day in Canada". He lives in a house in Bluewater Park, safe from predators, and the town of Wiarton cares for him year-round. Every February 2nd, the United States and Canada celebrate Groundhog Day to check up on Punxsutawney Phil and see whether he saw his shadow this year. $1.50 shipping. See also Meteorology; Weather Observations. While winter in Western Europe is normally finished by 2 February, in Canada it is usually still cold and snowy well past that date. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. Groundhog Day is just one of those crazy holidays that everybody can have fun with...Happy Groundhog Day to you, too! Wiarton Willie. Groundhog Day 2020: The results are in, but the vote isn't unanimous . Didn’t see his shadow—spring’s on the way. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. ... ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Groundhog Day is not a public holiday in Canada. . Groundhog day also falls halfway between the winter solstice or longest night of the year, and the spring equinox, which is when day and night are the same lengths. Additionally, a relationship was established early on between the waking of hibernating animals (such as bears, otters and hedgehogs) and the end of winter (see animals in winter). Groundhog Day in Canada. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. Given that 33 per cent accuracy can occur by chance, a score of 37 per cent is not considered significant. In the US, the most famous such prognostication is held at Punxsutawney town (pronounced “punks-uh-taw-nee”) in Pennsylvania state. However, Canadian meteorological data prove that the groundhogs’ success rate is quite low. At the beginning of February, during the grayest doldrums of late winter, the noble groundhog takes its place in the national spotlight. Privacy & Terms. https://www.patreon.com/homeschoolpop Learn all about Groundhog Day in this video for kids! FREE Shipping. Groundhog Day is not a public holiday. Approximately 10 communities in Canada keep up this tradition today, attracting the attention of tourists and media alike. Blame it on the weatherman If you text ‘‘Groundhog’’ to 247365, Punxsutawney Phil will reply with his weather prediction. Groundhog Day organizers maintain that the rodents’ predictions are accurate 75 to 90 per cent of the time. More, The unofficial holiday is dedicated to the four-stringed musical instrument that originated in Hawaii. In. When is Groundhog Day shown on a calendar. A roundup of the 2020 Groundhog Day results from across Canada and the United States. Groundhog Day: History, Top Tweets in Canada, 2021 date, Fun Facts, Quotes, and things to do. Credit: Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Excess flour was used to make crepes, a symbol of prosperity for the coming year. Canadaalso celebrates Groundhog Day. If the groundhog sees its shadow, then winter will be prolonged by six more weeks. However, since it is unlikely that Wiarton Willie would come out of his burrow on his own before early to mid-March (six to eight weeks after 2 February), he is awakened from hibernation to make his prediction. Businesses have normal opening hours. 59. Groundhog Day is not a public holiday. Balzac Billy. Morning Groundhog Funny Mother's Day Card. 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