Searcy(LP) Groundhog Day in the United States is February second. Groundhog day originates from ancient celebrations of many different cultures and religions. It is the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. However, it isn’t and wasn’t always called Groundhog Day. In Europe present day Germany it was believed by animalism and nature worshipers that the Badger had the Spring prediction powers. They watched for the Badger to know when to plant crops German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania choose the Groundhog due to lack of Badgers. Some cultures believe that leaving Christmas decorations up after Groundhog Day was the start of a bad year or bad luck to the person leaving them up.
The Groundhog Day lore is believed in many areas around the globe. In the United States many states have “adopted” their own groundhog. Most famous of them is Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the original Groundhog of Groundhog Day. Canada also believes in
this observance holiday however their some Christian churches also celebrate Candlemas. The festival in Wiarton, Bruce County, Ontario in Canada have Wiarton Willie. In 1887 the members of Punxsutawney Groundhog Club have had public celebrations that started with groundhog hunting to see if the animals have come out of hibernation. Punxsutawney Phil has had an eighty percent success rate.
In Astronomy the event or observance is placed in the earths orbit as it moves between solstice and equinox. Each cross quarter day like this is various traditions and holidays. This segments where more noticeable to our ancestors due to the fact Planting crops and Harvesting crops were how they survived season to season. February Second has different names in astronomy calendars and on our own daily calendars at home such as Imbolc, Candlemas, and Groundhog Day.
The famous movie which most people connect to this day is “Groundhog Day” 1993, starring comedian Bill Murray where the February 2nd, 1992 repeats itself till sooner or later Murray starts caring about others and falls in love. This movie brought a lot of attention to this observance day where most people now use it as a public holiday.
