Groundhog Day officially started on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, PA, when a local newspaper editor Clymer Freas and a group of hunters made a trek to Gobbler’s Knob to see a groundhog for a weather prediction.
German immigrants brought the tradition of using a hibernating animal to predict the length of winter. In Pennsylvania, German settlers adapted the tradition to use the groundhog.
IHS sophomore Ava Hutchinson voiced her opinion on why we have the tradition, “I think we have it just for entertainment and the fact that it brings a lot of people together, even if it is just a silly tradition,” and she wasn’t far off.
The event was inspired to formalize local folklore and promote the town. Groundhog Day marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Ashton Goss, a sophomore at IHS, when asked if he likes the tradition of Groundhog Day replied, “Yeah, I like the tradition, because it brings people together and it’s fun to see if the prediction was actually right.”
It comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog surfaces from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will shelter in its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will come early.
When asked about his hopes for the prediction, IHS freshman Parker Yachisko said, “I hope he does see his shadow because I really want more snow days or two-hour delays so we can miss school, or at least have a shortened day.”
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club maintains that Phil is the same animal having lived since the start of the tradition in 1887, and is being sustained by a secret elixir of life. Punxsutawney Phill resides in a climate controlled habitat at the library in Punxsutawny and does not actually hibernate, in order for him to stay active for his Groundhog Day appearance.
While Groundhog day is popular as a fun, lighthearted event Phil’s predictions are more for entertainment than actual accuracy. He has been right about his predictions only about 35% to 39% of the time, since the start in 1887.
Alexis Nyland is a sophomore and a first-year reporter for the High Arrow. She likes to read and hike. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She is excited to begin writing articles for the High Arrow.
