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When is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day falls on Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
About Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day falls on February 2 every year and is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if a groundhog comes out of its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter will follow. If it does not see its shadow, spring is said to be on the way. The most famous ceremony takes place at Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania, where a groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil has been "predicting" the weather since 1887. The tradition draws on the Christian feast of Candlemas and on older European weather lore. The day is not a public holiday, but it is firmly fixed in popular culture, helped by the 1993 Bill Murray film "Groundhog Day", whose title is now shorthand for any event that repeats over and over.
Punxsutawney Phil's handlers, a group called the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, claim that he is the same groundhog who has forecast the weather since 1887, kept alive by a magical "groundhog elixir". In reality groundhogs usually live six to eight years. Phil's accuracy is doubtful. Studies of his record suggest he has been right about 35 to 40 per cent of the time in recent decades, a little worse than a coin toss. Several other towns in Canada and the United States keep their own forecasting groundhogs, among them Wiarton Willie in Ontario, Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia and Staten Island Chuck in New York. The 1993 film brought so much extra attention that attendance at the Punxsutawney event has grown roughly tenfold since its release.
Frequently asked questions
What is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is a tradition held on February 2 in the United States and Canada. By folklore, a groundhog emerging from its burrow acts as a weather forecaster. If it sees its shadow and returns underground, the belief is that winter will last another six weeks. If it does not see its shadow, an early spring is predicted. The best-known event is at Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania. The day is not a public holiday, but it draws large crowds and wide media coverage, and it features in the well-known 1993 film of the same name.
Who is Punxsutawney Phil?
Punxsutawney Phil is the groundhog at the centre of the Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Each February 2 he is brought out at a spot called Gobbler's Knob, and his handlers announce whether he has seen his shadow. The event has been held since 1887. His handlers, the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, jokingly insist he is the same animal every year, kept alive by a special elixir. Groundhogs in fact live only several years, so Phil has really been a long succession of different animals.
How accurate is the groundhog's prediction?
Not very accurate. Reviews of Punxsutawney Phil's record suggest he has correctly matched the weather that followed only around 35 to 40 per cent of the time in recent decades, slightly worse than random chance. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also reported that his forecasts show no real skill. The tradition is treated as entertainment and folklore rather than science, and meteorologists do not rely on it. Its appeal is the ceremony, the crowd and the long history rather than any forecasting value.
What is the origin of Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day grew out of older European weather lore tied to Candlemas, a Christian feast on February 2. An old saying held that fair weather at Candlemas meant more winter to come. In parts of Germany the belief became attached to an animal, often a badger, whose behaviour on the day was read as a sign. German-speaking settlers brought the custom to Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, where the plentiful groundhog took the animal's role. The Punxsutawney ceremony was first recorded in 1887.
Why is the film "Groundhog Day" connected to the holiday?
The 1993 comedy "Groundhog Day", starring Bill Murray, is set in Punxsutawney on February 2. In the story a weatherman finds himself reliving the same day again and again. The film was a lasting success, and its title has since become an everyday phrase for any situation that seems to repeat without change. It also drew new attention to the real event, and visitor numbers at the Punxsutawney ceremony rose sharply in the years after its release.