Wondering if the weather at this year's Super Bowl calls for hot toddies or margaritas on the rocks? Forget the local weather channels or phone apps because an infamous rodent will have that answer for you this upcoming Friday! In case you forgot, Groundhog Day is right around the corner. The silly holiday serves as a beacon of hope in the heart of winter, allowing desires for a shorter winter to arise — that is, if the large (albeit adorable) groundhog fails to see his shadow, signaling an early spring.
For everyone hoping to tune in, we've gathered all the information you need to know about Groundhog Day 2024, when it is, and the tradition's history.
When is Groundhog Day 2024?
Sorry, but first, we must also address a more dire question—is it Groundhog Day or Groundhogs Day? (Dramatic drum roll)
Groundhog day is February 2 this year and every year. In 2024, February 2 falls on a Friday.
What is Groundhog Day?
This uniquely American tradition is essentially about weather prediction. Each February 2, the nation looks to a special groundhog — Punxsutawney Phil — to tell us if winter weather will last through the season or if we can expect spring-like temperatures early. According to the lore, if Phil sees his shadow and retreats back to his burrow, we'll have six more weeks of wintry weather. If he emerges and doesn't see his shadow, spring weather is close at hand (finally, time to break out those spring dresses!)
Did the groundhog see his shadow in 2024?
Although Punxsutawney Phil's big day hasn't yet occurred in 2024, if this year is anything like 2023, we won't be putting those winter coats away anytime soon! On Groundhog Day 2023, Punxsutawney Phil emerged on Gobbler's Knob in Pennsylvania and saw his shadow once again. Which meant six more weeks of winter, according to Phil.
Punxsutawney Phil, of western Pennsylvania, is by far the most famous groundhog. However, there are other famous groundhogs around the country, including groundhogs from Wisconsin, Georgia, and New York (Sun Praire Jimmy, Beauregard Lee, and Staten Island Chuck, respectively)
How did Groundhog Day start?
This odd tradition was officially celebrated for the first time in America during the winter of 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It's believed that Groundhogs Day came from two older traditions, Imbolc and Candlemas Day. Ancient Celts celebrated Imbolc, a festival marking the midpoint between seasons, where someone foretold the coming weather. Similarly, Candlemas also involved predicting the weather, according to lore:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
(John Ray, 1678)
The whole groundhog thing also seems to have come from Europe. Germans had an almost identical tradition, only a badger predicted the weather instead of a groundhog!
Has Groundhog Day ever been right?
Now for the real big question: has Punxsutawney Phil ever been right? To answer that succinctly — not as many times as he's been wrong. Since issuing his inaugural forecast in 1887, Punxsutawney Phil has proven accurate 39% of the time, according to the Stormfax Weather Almanac. Of his 127 total weather outlook predictions, Phil saw his shadow (six more weeks of winter) 107 times and failed to see his shadow (early spring) 19 times.
Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.
