The trail is ½ Mile in length with informational and educational signage as well as Metal Art Displays. ... ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Meteorological data from 13 Canadian cities over the past 30 to 40 years indicate that there have been an equal number of sunny and cloudy days on 2 February. Canada. Since weather conditions often last several days, those on 2 February could continue to last for a few days (although not necessarily much longer than that). The Groundhog Day ritual may have something to do with Feb. 2 landing midway between winter solstice and spring equinox, but no one knows for sure. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter. Many Canadians celebrate Groundhog Day. See how this holiday started and what it all means! The movie “Groundhog Day” from 1993, starring comedian Bill Murray, made Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania famous worldwide. Canadian winters are much longer and more intense than those in Europe. Since the 5th century, 2 February has been used to mark the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple 40 days after his birth, a date that was chosen in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Groundhog Day in Canada. Every February 2, tens of thousands of spectators attend Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney, a borough that’s home to some 6,000 people. Groundhog Day is considered a traditional national holiday in Canada and the … The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day saw Canada's best-known shadow-casting critters divided in their weather predictions on Sunday. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again.”. Other groundhogs across Canada play meteorologist as well, including Balzac Billy in, ) and Oil Springs Ollie in Ontario, Fred la marmotte (Val d’Espoir) in. Shubenacadie Sam, the Prognosticating Groundhog maybe Nova Scotia’s most famous groundhog. Birthday Groundhog Day 2020 Woodchuck Groundhog Lovers Gift Premium T-Shirt. The celebration also falls halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox. Groundhog Day in Nova Scotia. Even North American regions without mascots celebrate Groundhog Day. When is Groundhog Day shown on a calendar. Supposedly, if the Pennsylvanian groundhog sees his shadow, North America can expect six more weeks of winter. However, Canadian meteorological data prove that the groundhogs’ success rate is quite low. In winter, sunny days are usually associated with Arctic air, which is colder and drier, while cloudy days are associated with coastal air, which is milder and more humid. Phillips, David, and Laura Neilson Bonikowsky . Additionally, a relationship was established early on between the waking of hibernating animals (such as bears, otters and hedgehogs) and the end of winter (see animals in winter). Excess flour was used to make crepes, a symbol of prosperity for the coming year. Thousands of visitors come to Gobbler’s Knob on Groundhog Day as well as throughout the rest of the year. Canada and US Flavor Groundhog Day Postcard Set Birthday Mailing Thanks Greeting Card. On Groundhog Day, Canada's Wiarton Willie Called Early Spring, Shubenacadie Sam Says More Winter But Punxsutawney Phil could be the tiebreaker. Balzac Billy. It is the site of the annual Groundhog Day celebration and where Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction every February 2nd. FREE Shipping. . He was called Br'er Groundhog prior to being known as Phil. According to American folk tradition, February 2 nd is the day designated for the groundhog to awake from its hibernation and venture outside. In, Phillips, David, and Laura Neilson Bonikowsky, "Groundhog Day in Canada". The groundhog attracts media attention on Groundhog Day in Canada. Meteorological data from 13 Canadian cities over the past 30 to 40 years indicate that there have been an equal number of sunny and cloudy days on 2 February. It appears that European settlers (particularly Germans) brought this belief with them to North America and relied on the marmot, one of the most widespread hibernating animals, to predict whether prolonged winter conditions or spring warming lay in store. During this period, the groundhogs’ predictions were correct only 37 per cent of the time, meaning that winters remained cold for several weeks after the groundhog saw its shadow on 2 February, or that temperatures became much milder than usual if that day was too cloudy for a shadow to be seen. Winter has been in high gear for the first month of 2020 across much of Canada, and that has many Canadians asking an age-old question: Blame it on the weatherman If you text ‘‘Groundhog’’ to 247365, Punxsutawney Phil will reply with his weather prediction. It became one of the largest winter festivals in Bruce County, Canada. Historic snowfall. This tradition was brought over to North America, predominantly to Pennsylvania in the United States, where it was the groundhog, not the badger, which made these “predictions”. The film's plot added new meaning to the term “… The movie “Groundhog Day” from 1993, starring comedian Bill Murray, made the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania famous worldwide. Groundhog Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States every year on 2 February. According to European beliefs, spring’s arrival could be predicted based on the awakening of such animals. Groundhog Day A narcissistic TV weatherman, along with his attractive-but-distant producer and mawkish cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over. https://www.patreon.com/homeschoolpop Learn all about Groundhog Day in this video for kids! Groundhog Day is not a public holiday. Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the United States in the 1800s. On Sunday, (February 2), the US and Canada marked Groundhog Day, an annual tradition in which a groundhog predicts whether winter will continue or give way to spring soon. Groundhog Day organizers maintain that the rodents’ predictions are accurate 75 to 90 per cent of the time. In the US, the most famous such prognostication is held at Punxsutawney town (pronounced “punks-uh-taw-nee”) in Pennsylvania state. 5.0 out of 5 stars 3. Businesses have normal opening hours. The folksy, mid-winter tradition known as Groundhog Day saw Canada’s best-known shadow-casting critters divided in their weather predictions on Sunday. Shubenacadie Sam is one of the most famous of Canadian groundhogs. In some cultures, it was known as Old Moon, Ice Moon, Snow Moon, and the Moon after Yule. If you find a mistake, please let us know. By Radio Canada International | english@rcinet.ca Posted: Friday, February 2, 2018 09:23 Last Updated: Friday, February 2, 2018 10:34 Legend has it that watching a groundhog emerge from its burrow can determine the weather forecast for the coming weeks. More. Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on January 31, 2013: I remember this hub and had to come back and re-visit it and share it.. Groundhog Day, in the United States and Canada, day (February 2) on which the emergence of the groundhog from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festival grew as Willie’s fame increased. The phenomenon was immortalized in the American film Groundhog Day, which features Bill Murray as an arrogant meteorologist who is forced to live out the same day for the rest of his life. The January Full Moon is named after howling wolves. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. Groundhog Day is just one of those crazy holidays that everybody can have fun with...Happy Groundhog Day to you, too! Groundhog Day organizers maintain that the rodents’ predictions are accurate 75 to 90 per cent of the time. Groundhog day also falls halfway between the winter solstice or longest night of the year, and the spring equinox, which is when day and night are the same lengths. Tu B’Shevat is known as the “New Year for Trees”, is a Jewish festival that marks the start of a new cycle for the tithe on fruit trees. Privacy & Terms. Accordingly, if it is a sunny day and the groundhog sees its shadow, it goes back to sleep for six more weeks of winter. Tradition claims that on February 2nd the groundhog will poke its head out of its burrow. Credit: Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. Approximately 10 communities in Canada keep up this tradition today, attracting the attention of tourists and media alike. During this period, the groundhogs’ predictions were correct only 37 per cent of the time, meaning that winters remained cold for several weeks after th… Other groundhogs across Canada play meteorologist as well, including Balzac Billy in Alberta, Brandon Bob and Winnipeg Willow in Manitoba, Gary the Groundhog (Kleinburg) and Oil Springs Ollie in Ontario, Fred la marmotte (Val d’Espoir) in Québec, and Two Rivers Tunnel (Cape Breton Island) and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia. Shubenacadie Sam lives in Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park and does not hibernate during the winter in order to put on a better show for tourists. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. In the United States the most popular event occurs in Pennsylvania and centers on a groundhog designated Punxsutawney Phil. The Groundhog Day concept first became popular in Canada in 1956 when Wiarton Willie became a household name for his early February weather predictions. Groundhog Day: History, Top Tweets in Canada, 2021 date, Fun Facts, Quotes, and things to do. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others called it the Storm Moon. It dates back to pagan times, when farmers would purify their land by carrying torches in procession before sowing time. $12.59 $ 12. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. "Groundhog Day in Canada". However, there is a kernel of truth to the shadow aspect of the legend. Living on the east coast, Sam is the first rodent to make a prediction in Canada on Groundhog Day. The day of 2 February corresponds with Candlemas, a Christian festival (see religious festivals) during which candles are lit, hence the celebration’s name. Given that 33 per cent accuracy can occur by chance, a score of 37 per cent is not considered significant. 59. 79. He lives in a house in Bluewater Park, safe from predators, and the town of Wiarton cares for him year-round. Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund'sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day ) is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. In North America, the tradition of predicting the weather by watching groundhogs come out of their burrows dates back to 1887 and is attributed to German settlers in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. In Scotland, there was an old saying that “If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, There’ll be twa [two] winters in the year.” In England, an old song elaborates on this idea: “If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight. 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