Countdown to Groundhog Day Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Groundhog Day or Countdown to Groundhog Day? Check this list for answers to the most common questions we receive. If you have a query that isn't answered below, you can always send us an email and ask.
What is Groundhog Day (the holiday)?
What is Groundhog Day (the movie)?
What is Countdown to Groundhog Day?
How many Punxsutawney Phils have there been?
When was the first Groundhog Day ceremony celebrated?
Are there other groundhogs that predict the weather besides Punxsutawney Phil?
Did the groundhog see his shadow?
Is a woodchuck the same thing as a groundhog?
Is a whistlepig the same thing as a groundhog?
Is a gopher the same thing as a groundhog?
Is a prairie dog the same thing as a groundhog?
What is Groundhog Day (the holiday)?
Groundhog Day is a popular holiday celebrated annually on February 2nd, derived from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition. On this day a groundhog is observed emerging from its burrow. If it sees its shadow, it will run back into its den and winter will persist for an additional six weeks. If, however, the groundhog does not see its shadow, Spring will come early. How early is never really specified. Arguably the most popular Groundhog Day ceremony is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in the United States, with crowds as large as 40,000+ gathering each year to find out whether Punxsutawney Phil will predict an early Spring or not. There are also other Groundhog Day ceremonies throughout the world, although mainly in the United States and Canada. Other notable forecasters include Staten Island Chuck in New York City, US and Wiarton Willie in Ontario, Canada.
What is Groundhog Day (the movie)?
The movie Groundhog Day is a 1993 film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Ramis and Danny Rubin. It stars Bill Murray as weatherman Phil Connors, who while on assignment to cover the annual Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania finds himself stuck in a time loop, repeating the day over and over again, until he finally gets the day right. Andie MacDowell stars as his producer and eventual love interest, Chris Elliott stars as his cameraman, and Stephen Tobolowsky stars as lovable insurance salesman Ned Ryerson.
What is Countdown to Groundhog Day?
Countdown to Groundhog Day is one of the most powerful Groundhog Day related websites on the internet! We celebrate all things Groundhog Day - both the holiday and the movie! We count down to February 2nd every year and also share fun Groundhog Day related information and news. We have the most thorough list of Groundhog Day forecasters available anywhere on the planet. We also have lots of fun activities and merchandise. Feel free to use the navigation links to look around! You can learn more about Countdown to Groundhog Day here.
Groundhog Day takes place on February 2nd, every year.
Groundhog Day is in our hearts. Also it is celebrated in ceremonies throughout the world, the most notable Groundhog Day ceremony taking place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. There are many other Groundhog Day ceremonies and Groundhog Day forecasters however! You can check out our ever growing list of Groundhog Day Forecasters here.
Punxsutawney Phil is the groundhog at the center of the Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. Every Year crowds as large as 40,000+ gather in the town to watch Phil predict the weather.
How many Punxsutawney Phils have there been?
According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, there has only ever been one Punxsutawney Phil. Phil drinks from a magical "elixir of life" each summer which has kept him alive since the 1880s.
Punxsutawney Phil has been forecasting the weather since either 1886 or 1887, which makes him over 130 years old.
When was the first Groundhog Day ceremony celebrated?
February 2nd, 1887 is considered the first official Groundhog Day held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. However, there was mention of Groundhog Day a year earlier in the local newspaper, The Punxsutawney Spirit.
Are there other groundhogs that predict the weather besides Punxsutawney Phil?
Yes, not only are there other groundhog weather predictors, there are also several non-groundhog groundhog stand-ins. We've compiled a list of Groundhog Day Forecasters from around the World, which you can see here.
Did the groundhog see his shadow?
There are a lot of Groundhog Day forecasters (and they're not all groundhogs!) Since 2019 we've collected all of the Groundhog Day predictions that we can find and put them here. You can see which forecaster predicted what and what the aggregate prediction is.
Is a woodchuck the same thing as a groundhog?
Yes, woodchuck is another name for groundhog. Read more about where the name came from.
Is a whistlepig the same thing as a groundhog?
Yes, whistlepig is another name for groundhog.
Is a gopher the same thing as a groundhog?
No, they are different animals and not even part of the same family!
Is a prairie dog the same thing as a groundhog?
No, they are different animals, although they are both part of the Sciuridae family.
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