Groundhog Day (Canadian French: Jour de la Marmotte; Pennsylvania German: Grundsaudaag, Murmeltiertag) is a traditional holiday originating in the United States that is celebrated on February 2. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then the spring season will arrive early, some time before the vernal equinox; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its den, and winter weather will persist for six more weeks.
Groundhog Day was adopted in the U.S. in 1887. Clymer H. Freas was the editor of the local paper Punxsutawney Spirit at the time, and he began promoting the town’s groundhog as the official “Groundhog Day meteorologist”.
And just how old is this so called Groundog meteorologist….named Punxsutawney Phil? Punxsutawney Phil is immortal. According to folklore, the magical groundhog was born in 1887, which would make him 123-years-old. Although the average groundhog only lives six to eight years. Lore also suggest that Phil drinks a magical elixir every summer which grants him seven more years of life.
