Ground Hog Day History:
Groundhog Day is a popular tradition celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2.
It comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog
emerging from its burrow on this day, sees a shadow due to clear weather,
it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks.....
However, If it does not see its shadow because of clouds, Spring will arrive early..
While the tradition remains popular in modern day times, there is no consistent
correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow or not ,and the weather following.
How did Puxsutawney Phil get his name?
Punxsutawney, PA held its first Ground Hog Day in the United States in the 1800s.
The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887.
It is said that Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) was named after King Phillip.
He was called Br'er Groundhog prior to being known as Phil.
Learn some Groundhog Trivia!!
All groundhogs have 22 teeth.
Groundhogs whistle when alarmed.
Groundhogs whistle when they are courting.
A groundhog is a vegetarian.
The average groundhog weighs 12-15 pounds
Groundhogs hibernate in their own burrows.
Groundhog burrows have two openings.
Groundhogs can swim and climb trees.
A baby groundhog is called a kit or a cub.
The average life span of a groundhog is 6-8 years.
Groundhogs can lose half their body weight during hibernating!
They don't taste like chicken, saw this somewhere.. I don't actually know this...
Read a Groundhog Day Book to Your Kids
This is just the homeschooler in me..
It’s Groundhog Day
My Groundhogs
Ten Grouchy Groundhogs
Groundhog's Runaway Shadow
Groundhog gets a say
How Groundhog's Garden Grew
Substitute Groundhog
Geoffrey Groundhog
Punxsutawney Phil and His Weather Wisdom
(The information regarding the Ground Hogs name and History was sourced from a variety of online sites and is true to the best of my knowledge, I just wanted to encourage some silly history fun)
