Fun Fact Friday: Groundhog Day Trivia

Fun Fact Friday: Groundhog Day Trivia

Groundhog Day is a time-honored tradition practiced in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and receives national coverage. The myth goes that a groundhog will emerge and if he sees his shadow he gets scared and will crawl back into hiding and hibernate for six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring. Of course, there is no truth as to whether the groundhog will predict the phenomenon of perennial passages. Continue reading for some Groundhog Day fun facts!

Groundhog Day Fun Facts

People tend to like Groundhog Day with the promise of a novel in early spring, and because of Punxsutawney Phil. Phil is the groundhog mascot for the eponymous holiday. Much like baby animals, people gravitate toward animals because they look babylike, in a helpless, squishy, warm, and soft type of way.

• Punxsutawney tradition is about 132 years old
• Phil has a wife named Phyllis and they live in the library
• Groundhog Day came from Candlemas
• Candlemas originated in Germany
• A groundhog can live to be 8 years old
• There is a group called The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club that presides over
• Phil has met Oprah
• Phil is always right
• Bill Murray popularized the holiday in his film, “Groundhog Day”
• Groundhogs are herbivores
• Groundhogs eat primarily wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and crops, when available.
• Groundhogs are one of the few species that enter into true hibernation and often build a separate “winter burrow” for this purpose.

Final Thoughts

Did you know all of these Groundhog fun facts? Were there ones that surprised you? Is Groundhog Day one of your favorite holidays? Comment below! Click here to check out more trivia.