Every February 2nd, thousands gather to witness the curious tradition. Will the groundhog see its shadow… or not? Groundhog’s Day is a beloved U.S. tradition that combines fun with weather predictions, as the famous Punxsutawney Phil takes center stage. But where did the unique tradition start, and why does it continue to be so captivating?
Groundhog’s Day has been a tradition since the Germans immigrated to the U.S. However, they didn’t have hedgehogs then, so they chose a groundhog as the weather predictor. The most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, is the star of the celebration and has been “predicting” the weather every year since February 2, 1877
The real question is whether people want early spring or a longer winter. Computer Tech Teacher Mrs. Aimee Fahy at Edison Intermediate School stated, “Early! I am looking forward to early spring and for the groundhog to give us good news.”
If the groundhog sees his shadow, he predicts there will be six more weeks of winter. If he does not, spring will come soon. The groundhog has predicted 108 continued winters and only 21 early springs up until 2024. Seventh grader Abby Hsu at EIS stated, “I think the groundhog’s shadow can maybe predict the weather because most of the time it is accurate.”
On the other hand, some people think that the groundhog’s predictions won’t come true and that it is just a silly myth. EIS seventh grade student Anuskka Thirunav declared, “I don’t feel like the groundhog’s shadow determines the weather, the weather decides.”
Eighth grader Evan Washbourne also stated, “I don’t think Groundhog’s Day is that important.”
These students may be on to something since Punxsutawney is only accurate 39% of the time. For many schools, Groundhog’s Day is a fun tradition that many people enjoy watching or even learning about. Sixth grader Dean Mcnanna exclaimed, “I love groundhogs; they’re very nice. It doesn’t make total sense, but it’s a funny tradition and we should keep it.”
There is thought that schools should bring more attention to Groundhog’s Day, one idea from sixth grader Danica Wnuck is “Maybe we can have a fun assembly.”
Another sixth grader from EIS, Emma Fan agreed and added, “I think an assembly would be fun to learn all about Groundhog’s Day, and if we had some fun activities and facts.”
Groundhogs come out of their hibernation on February 2nd, weighing 22 pounds. When Punxsutawney wakes up every year for this special day his heart rate drops to five beats per minute, and they can lose up to 30 percent of their body fat. One of the many myths that they say about Punxsutawney is that they give him a magical drink that gives him seven more years of life.
Not everyone believes that the groundhog’s prediction will come true. EIS Reading Specialist Elizabeth Soriero stated, “I believe in the groundhog’s prediction. It’s a great tradition; I love it!”
Eighth grader Jack Mroz added about Groundhogs Day, “The day is not talked about enough, and if it were, people would appreciate the tradition more.”
In summary, many people have different opinions on Groundhog Day’s holiday. While most people think it’s a fun tradition, others believe it makes no sense and is unnecessary. So, will you be watching the groundhog this February?
Gretchen Meyers • Feb 6, 2025 at 4:01 pm
I absolutely loved this article. I grew up a short 45 minutes away from Punxsutawney Phil. I never attended the morning celebration but people come from far away for a fun tradition. We always were excited to find out if Phil saw his shadow or not. I loved learning more about it. Thanks girls for a great article!