Why Is Groundhog Day Always February 2nd?

The Christian tradition in which Groundhog's Day has its roots is called Candlemas, as EarthSky reports. In the Christian tradition of Candlemas, also February 2nd, clergy handed out candles to their congregation, estimating how much longer winter might last. In Germany, hedgehogs, which hibernate, were added to the tradition. If the animal's hedgehog senses said spring was imminent it would stay awake, they assumed. If not, it would scurry back to its den to get some extra shut-eye, according to History. With groundhogs more abundant in Pennsylvania, it's believed the residents of Punxsutawney thought perhaps these creatures, too, might also share those purported powers of prognostication. 

What's notable about the date when it all happens, though, is that February 2nd is a so-called "cross-quarter" day on the ancient Celtic calendar. Called Imbolc, that date demarcates the halfway point between the winter equinox and the summer solstice. Pre-Christian Celtic culture divided their year up into eight cross-quarter days, Imbolc being only the first (via EarthSky.) Regardless of the reasons why we turn to a groundhog to predict if spring is coming, Punxsutawney Phil — as every participating hedgehog has been called since 1887 — is never very accurate. Groundhog Day nevertheless represents a day for us to gather together and celebrate that we are halfway through the winter, however much longer the season might last.

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