What is Groundhog Day and how is it celebrated?

the celebration of groundhog day in North America has its roots in punxsutawneytown in the state of Pennsylvania populated by about 7 thousand people, in United States of America. Tradition, which is respected February 2nd every year, coincides with Candelaria day and has been celebrated on the continent since 1887.

The origin is directly connected with the custom established centuries ago among adherents of the Christian creed in Germanywho carried their candles into churches to be blessed, knowing that this leap of faith would bring blessings to their homes during the winter.

The belief was accompanied by the public presentation of a hedgehog. The tradition was brought to Pennsylvania by early immigrants from Germany in the late 19th century. Lacking hedgehogs in that part of the United States, those pioneers turned to woodchucks.

The most famous marmot

In Punxsutawney, where the most popular festival takes place, every February 2 at dawn, a marmot named Phil is taken from his den which shelters him in the trunk of a tree. According to tradition, if the most famous rodent sees its shadow on its way out, winter will extend for another six weeks.

In the event that the day dawns overcast and the animal fails to appreciate any of its images projected in the forest, it is believed that early spring is shortly away.

This popular method used by farmers in the United States and Canada being able to predict the end of the coldest season of the year and project their crops, replicates the usage adopted centuries ago by their colleagues in the Roman Empire. The custom spread to the rest of Europe through the priests, who blessed the candles before distributing them.

an allusive film

The faithful assumed that the clear skies of February 2 were the anticipation of a long winter. Groundhog Day has become better known worldwide since the premiere of the film “Groundhog Day” -“The Spell of Time”, in its Spanish-dubbed version for Latin America-, starring American actors Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, in 1993.

Although quite limited since pandemic of the COVID-19events organized in North America to celebrate the 2021 edition of Groundhog Day will be broadcast live on various websites.