by Gina Sharif

Created on: January 18, 2011

Groundhog Day: Turning our Hopes towards the Coming of spring

Celebrating the coming of spring is a custom practiced in many cultures throughout the world. Most look to something as basic as the return of the growing season, or the opportunity to spend some time out of doors without the need for several additional layers of clothing. In our culture, winter’s end is the result of a groundhog.

Our Favorite Groundhog, Puxsutawney Phil

Since 1886, the tradition of checking in with Puxsutawney Phil the groundhog in Puxsutawney, Pennsylvania to forecast the coming of spring has been a staple in American history. In Wiarton Ontario, the responsibility has fallen to Wiarton Willie, another famous groundhog, since 1956.

Commemorating an Iconic Groundhog

February 2nd marks the day that those of us in the United States and Canada turn our attention to a particular marmot. Also known as a woodchuck, the groundhog is one of the few species that enter into true hibernation, something that many of us humans envy greatly. Groundhogs will, on average, wake from their winter slumber around March or April. Somehow, although the origins are unclear, the groundhog took on the formidable undertaking of being awoken from his slumber a full six weeks early, just to provide us humans with a forecast that may or may not be accurate for the following six weeks. The Groundhog Day rule of thumb is that if the confused, half-asleep groundhog sees his shadow, it’s six more weeks of winter. No shadow seen by the groundhog supposedly marks the sign of an early spring.

The Groundhog Club: Collectible Groundhogs

Collectors of this iconic symbol of the end of another harsh winter and the onset of the new beginnings that spring represents are enthusiastic and passionate about their collectibles. Collecting groundhogs, including Puxsutawney Phil himself, is serious business, even if the holiday is rather comical.

The most beautiful and elegant of these groundhog offerings would be the groundhog that will never cast a true shadow: the groundhog hand cooler. Steuben has artfully captured the wide-eyed innocence of this forest creature, while also portraying the shadow itself, as history has shown that the groundhog has seen his shadow 97 times, to a mere 15 times in which he has not.

If you are a lover of all things groundhog, you may have seen this dapper group of gentlemen. They are known as the Groundhog Club Inner Circle and are in the news every February 2nd as they wake Punxsutawney Phil from his slumber to carry out the Groundhog Day tradition. This group of local dignitaries is responsible for planning the festivities and events every year, as well as the feeding and care of Punxsutawney Phil himself.

For many, the coming of Groundhog Day marks the unofficial defining moment when we can be reminded that winter won’t last forever- and spring, whether six weeks away or not, is still around the corner…if we can just hold out for a little bit more.

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