BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Folklore and Mythology Groundhog Day Origins, article

Well, folks, it is official -- Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow today, so an early spring is predicted, for Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, anyway...

To read about the interesting origins of this holiday, click on the following link:
Groundhog Day Origins

I hope you enjoy the article. I always welcome feedback.

It is also thought by some researchers that the tradition comes from Europe, but was applied to the hedgehog.

I remember reading that somewhere. There is an English poem that refers to Candlemas and predictions for spring:

As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop

In Alaska, February 2 is observed as Marmot Day rather than Groundhog Day because few groundhogs exist in the state. I think we (here in Reno) should have a Marmot Day because we see them quite often around here.

Hi Phyllis, just to say that Germany also has a historical connection to Groundhog Day.

It isn�t celebrated as such, only as far as quoting old farming proverbs, but it seems that centuries ago the behaviour of hedgehogs was used as a barometer to gauge the coming weather, there are even little proverbs and poems about them from that time, which German emigrants took with them when they left the country. So many customs and traditions are linked one way or another.

Now hedgehogs are a protected species in Germany, modern life has not really been treating them well.

'Marmot Day' does sound fun!

That is very interesting, Francine, thank you. I love hedgehogs!
Thank you for sharing the information.

Do you know any of the old farming proverbs that you can share with us?

Don't get me started Phyllis, I have a thing about German farming proverbs, seem to collect them, you will get tired hearing them.

Will send some over but to start here is a short one about
Candlemas and hedgehogs:

Wenn der Igel Lichtmess seinen Schatten sieht,
so Kriecht er wieder auf sechs Wochen ins Loch.

When the hedgehog sees his shadow at Candlemas,
He will crawl back into his hole for another six weeks


So very similar to the Groundhog stories, and it apparently dates from the 17th Century.

Too cold for any self respecting hedgehog to make any effort to come out of his nest at the moment, so not sure what that means.

Later spring, maybe? Or Hedgehog just loves his warm, cozy home a lot.

Please do send more proverbs -- I like reading them.

Will Do Phyllis!

Wonderful! Thanks, Francine.

If anyone else has any proverbs or poems from your country on the spring predictions, I would love to read them.

Spring has come when you can put your foot on three daisies.

English proverb.