What is National Groundhog Day?
One question remains: on February 2nd each year, asks one. Will he see his shadow? Okay, well, maybe it asks another question. Will there be six more weeks of winter? In both the United States and Canada, the day is commemorated each year.
Traditionally, the groundhog awakens from his nap for a much-needed break in the winter to see if he can see his shadow. Many believe if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If this is so, he retreats into his den and goes back to sleep. However, if he does not see his shadow, the groundhog remains outside to play, and people celebrate as spring approaches..
Tradition
Candlemas, the Christian holiday, is intertwined with the tradition of predicting the length of the remaining winter. The clergy will bless candles in their congregations, symbolizing the "light of the world." Crepes are another popular holiday during this week. With a hedgehog, Germans learned how to forecast the winter with a hedgehog. When they arrived in the United States, they settled in the hills of Pennsylvania, and the groundhog became the official predictor.
The annual Groundhog Day festival has been held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thousands of people attended Punxsutawney on Groundhog Day to commemorate this day of celebration.
