Happy Groundhog Day!!

January 31, 2012

There’s no specific date for when Groundhog Day was first celebrated, but it’s believed to stem from Candlemas, a holiday commemorating the purification of the Virgin Mary. Candlemas was celebrated on February 2, and people believed that if it was sunny that day, winter would last another six weeks. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  Crowds of over 30,000 come out to see Punxsutawney Phil. According to lore, Phil drinks a magic elixir every summer to account for his long life, because groundhogs normally live between 6 to 8 years. Phil has had a long, colorful history including a 1986 trip to the White House to meet President Reagan. Only time will tell if Phil’s prediction this year comes true.

Tess T.
Blue Springs North Branch