What Is Groundhog Day? and Where Did It Come From?

In North America, February 2 is celebrated annually as Groundhog Day. Observers await the day that a groundhog emerges from its hole. According to legend, an extended winter of six more weeks is in store if the groundhog sees its own shadow. The following spring will arrive early if the creature does not see its shadow.

The Celtic tradition of celebrating the pagan holiday Imbolc at the start of spring is the basis for today's celebration of Groundhog Day. During Imbolc, people were initiated, and the weather was predicted. Imbolc marked the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in the ancient Celtic calendar, which was divided by the equinoxes and solstices. Along with the summer and winter solstices and the spring and autumn equinoxes, the four cross-quarter days were also observed as holidays.

Throughout history, many different cultures have kept track of the solstices and equinoxes.

After a long, cold winter, food was scarce, so ancient people needed any information they could find about the upcoming spring weather. Many people have looked to animal hibernation and other behaviors for insights into the upcoming weather. To try and foretell the weather, ancient Germanic people would observe things like whether or not a badger would run away from its shadow.

Candlemas, a Christian festival celebrated in the dead of winter, shares a history with the Groundhog Day tradition.

The Christian holiday celebrated on February 2 had some parallels to the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc. The ancient Germanic people would keep an eye out for a badger on Candlemas to determine if winter was nearing its end. According to this superstition, the cold winter would continue for much longer if the badger saw his shadow, but warmer weather would arrive sooner if he didn't. Due to this tradition, Candlemas was also often called "Badger Day" or "dachstag."