When is Groundhog Day?

The countdown to Punxsutawney Phil's big moment is officially underway with just days to go!

Every year, thousands gather in Pennsylvania's Gobbler's Knob as they anxiously await the groundhog's forecast for the rest of the year.

When is Groundhog Day?

The annual holiday is always held on February 2. This year, that date lands on Sunday.

The backstory:

Groundhog Day originates from the Christian festival of Candlemas, a European tradition held on February 2 that uses a badger or hedgehog to predict the weather based on its shadow.

When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, they swapped the badger for a groundhog, because it was more common in the area.

The U.S. holiday appeared in a local newspaper in 1886, but the first official trip to Gobbler's Knob didn't happen until the following year.

What's next:

Punxsutawney Phil will continue the shadow tradition once again this year: Are we getting another six weeks of winter, or will spring come early?

The holiday kicks off at 4 a.m. and lasts through the afternoon. For a full list of events, check out the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

The Source: Information from this article was sourced from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

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