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For the film, see Groundhog Day (film).
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA
Type Cultural
Significance Whether the groundhog sees its shadow determines how much longer winter will last
Date February 2
Celebrations Observing a groundhog emerging from its burrow and seeing whether it sees its shadow, announcing the result

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.[1] The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog.[2] The holiday also bears some similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas.[3] It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication.[4]

Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges (Grundsow Lodges) celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge,[5] social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table.[6]

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as high as 40,000[7] have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886.[8] Other celebrations of note in Pennsylvania take place in Quarryville in Lancaster County,[9] the Anthracite Region of Schuylkill County,[10] the Sinnamahoning Valley[11] and Bucks County.[12] Outside of Pennsylvania, notable celebrations occur in the Frederick and Hagerstown areas of Maryland,[13] the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia,[14] Woodstock, Illinois,[15], Lilburn, Georgia[16] and among the Amish populations of over twenty states and at Wiarton, Ontario and Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia in Canada.[14] The University of Dallas in Irving, Texas has taken Groundhog Day as its official university holiday and organizes a large-scale celebration every year in honor of the Groundhog.[17]

Groundhog Day received worldwide attention as a result of the 1993 film of the same name, Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and featured Punxsutawney Phil.[18]

Contents

History

Historical origins

The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels.

An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary[19] entry, dated February 5, 1841, of Berks County, Pennsylvania storekeeper James Morris:

Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans,[20] the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem:

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

This tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day[21] and Groundhog Day. Candlemas, also known as the Purification of the Virgin or the Presentation, coincides with the pagan observance Imbolc.

Alternative origin theories

In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere the official first day of Spring is almost seven weeks (46–48 days) after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or March 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This is exactly six weeks after February 2. The custom could have been a folk embodiment of the confusion created by the collision of two calendrical systems. Some ancient traditions marked the change of season at cross-quarter days such as Imbolc when daylight first makes significant progress against the night. Other traditions held that Spring did not begin until the length of daylight overtook night at the Vernal Equinox. So an arbiter, the groundhog/hedgehog, was incorporated as a yearly custom to settle the two traditions. Sometimes Spring begins at Imbolc, and sometimes Winter lasts 6 more weeks until the equinox.[22]

Famous groundhogs and predictions

Statue of groundhog Wiarton Willie in Wiarton, Ontario

Many towns that celebrate Groundhog Day throughout North America have winter-predicting groundhogs. By far, the most notable groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Other groundhogs of note include Buckeye Chuck, General Beauregard Lee, Staten Island Chuck, Wiarton Willie and Shubenacadie Sam.

Groundhog Day proponents state that the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90%.[23] A Canadian study for 13 cities in the past 30 to 40 years puts success rate level at 37%.[23] Also, the National Climatic Data Center reportedly has stated that the overall predictions accuracy rate is around 39%.[24]

WKBW-TV meteorologist Mike Randall put it a different way: since there are always six more weeks of winter after Groundhog Day, and the concept of early spring in the astronomical sense simply does not exist, then whenever the groundhog sees its shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter, the groundhog is always right, but whenever it predicts an early spring, it is always wrong. The results have an approximate 80% rate of accuracy, the average percentage of times a groundhog sees its shadow.[25]

Predictions by year

Date Prediction Groundhog Location
2010 6 more weeks of winter[26] Holtsville Hal Holtsville, New York
2010 Early spring[27] Queen Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina
2010 Early spring[27] Gus Athens, Georgia
2010 Early Spring[28] Octoraro Orphie Quarryville, Pennsylvania
2010 Early Spring[29] Sir Walter Wally Raleigh, North Carolina
2010 Early spring[30] Jimmy the Groundhog Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
2010 Early spring[31] General Beauregard Lee Snellville, Georgia
2010 6 more weeks of winter[32] Malverne Mel Malverne, New York
2010 Early spring[33] Staten Island Chuck Staten Island (New York City)
2010 Early spring[34] Woodstock Willie Woodstock, Illinois
2010 6 more weeks of winter[35] Wiarton Willie Wiarton, Ontario
2010 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
2010 Early spring[36] Uni Myerstown, Pennsylvania
2010 6 more weeks of winter Spanish Joe Spanish, Ontario
2010 Early spring[37] Dunkirk Dave Dunkirk, New York
2010 Early Spring[38] Buckeye Chuck Marion, Ohio
2010 Early Spring[39] Balzac Billy Balzac, Alberta
2010 6 more weeks of winter Shubenacadie Sam Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia
2010 Early Spring[40] French Creek Freddie French Creek, West Virginia
2010 6 more weeks of winter[41] Chuckles Manchester, Connecticut
2010 6 more weeks of winter[42] Woody Howell, Michigan
2010 6 more weeks of winter[43] Stormy Marmot Aurora, Colorado
2009 6 more weeks of winter[27] Gus Athens, Georgia
2009 Early Spring[44] Queen Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina
2009 6 more weeks of winter Sir Walter Wally Raleigh, North Carolina
2009 6 more weeks of winter Spanish Joe Spanish, Ontario
2009 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
2009 Early spring General Beauregard Lee Atlanta, Georgia
2009 Early spring[45] French Creek Freddie French Creek, West Virginia
2009 6 more weeks of winter[46] Buckeye Chuck Marion, Ohio
2009 6 more weeks of winter Balzac Billy Balzac, Alberta
2009 Early Spring[47] Malverne Mel Malverne, New York
2009 6 more weeks of winter[48] Woodstock Willie Woodstock, Illinois
2009 6 more weeks of winter[49] Jimmy the Groundhog Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
2009 6 more weeks of winter[50] Octoraro Orphie Quarryville, Pennsylvania
2009 Early Spring[51] Staten Island Chuck Staten Island (New York City)
2009 6 more weeks of winter[52] Wiarton Willie Wiarton, Ontario
2009 6 more weeks of winter[52] Shubenacadie Sam
2009 6 more weeks of winter[53] Punxsutawney Phil Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
2009 Early Spring[54] Dunkirk Dave Dunkirk, New York
2008 6 more weeks of winter[55] Stormy Marmot Aurora, Colorado
2008 6 more weeks of winter[56] Punxsutawney Phil
2008 Early Spring[57] Jimmy the Groundhog
2008 Early Spring[58] Dunkirk Dave
2008 Early Spring[59] Pat Lane
2008 Early Spring[60] Balzac Billy
2008 6 more weeks of winter[61] Sir Walter Wally
2008 Early Spring[60] Wiarton Willie
2008 Early Spring[62] General Beauregard Lee
2008 6 more weeks of winter[62] Queen Charlotte
2008 Early Spring[63] Malverne Mel
2008 6 more weeks of winter[64] West Indies Wilbur
2008 Early Spring[60] Shubenacadie Sam
2008 Early Spring[63] Staten Island Chuck
2008 Early Spring[65] Buckeye Chuck
2008 Early Spring Spanish Joe Spanish, Ontario
2007 6 more weeks of winter Holtsville Hal
2007 6 more weeks of winter Dunkirk Dave
2007 Early Spring Punxsutawney Phil
2007 Early Spring Staten Island Chuck
2007 Early Spring Wiarton Willie
2007 Early Spring Shubenacadie Sam
2007 Early Spring General Beauregard Lee
2007 Early Spring Malverne Melissa
2007 Early Spring Buckeye Chuck
2007 Early Spring Spanish Joe
2007 Early Spring Sir Walter Wally
2006 Early Spring[66] Stormy Marmot Aurora, Colorado
2006 6 more weeks of winter Dunkirk Dave
2006 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2006 6 more weeks of winter Buckeye Chuck
2006 Early Spring Spanish Joe
2006 Early Spring Wiarton Willie
2006 Early Spring Fountains Hills Weasel
2006 Early Spring General Beauregard Lee
2006 Early Spring Staten Island Chuck
2006 Early Spring Shubenacadie Sam
2006 Early Spring Jimmy the Groundhog
2006 Early Spring Malverne Mel
2006 Early Spring French Creek Freddie
2005 6 more weeks of winter Dunkirk Dave
2005 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2005 6 more weeks of winter Shubenacadie Sam
2005 6 more weeks of winter Spanish Joe
2005 6 more weeks of winter Octoraro Orphie
2005 Early Spring Wiarton Willie
2005 Early Spring Jimmy the Groundhog
2005 Early Spring General Beauregard Lee
2005 Early Spring Balzac Billy
2005 Early Spring Staten Island Chuck
2004 6 more weeks of winter Dunkirk Dave
2004 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2004 6 more weeks of winter Wiarton Willie
2004 6 more weeks of winter Spanish Joe
2004 6 more weeks of winter Balzac Billy
2004 6 more weeks of winter General Beauregard Lee
2004 6 more weeks of winter Malverne Mel
2003 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2003 Early Spring Dunkirk Dave
2003 Early Spring Spanish Joe
2002 6 more weeks of winter Dunkirk Dave
2002 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2002 Early Spring Spanish Joe
2001 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2001 Early Spring Dunkirk Dave
2001 Early Spring Spanish Joe
2000 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil
2000 Early Spring Spanish Joe
1999 Early Spring Punxsutawney Phil
1999 Early Spring Spanish Joe

Groundhog Day in popular culture

  • At the end of Disney's 1930 Silly Symphonies short film Winter, Mr. Groundhog the Weather Prophet comes out of his hole to determine whether or not there will be more winter. At first, he does not see his shadow, but the clouds clear and his shadow appears, causing him to run back inside. At this point, the winds picks up again and winter continues.
  • In the 1979 Rankin-Bass Christmas TV special Jack Frost, a crucial plot point in the story involves Jack casting his own shadow on Groundhog Day for six more weeks of winter. At the end of the story it is revealed that the narrator (voiced by Buddy Hackett) is the groundhog.
  • The 1993 comedy movie Groundhog Day takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on this day (although the majority of the movie was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois). The main character (played by Bill Murray) is forced to relive the day over and over again until he can learn to give up his selfishness and become a better person.[67] In popular culture, the phrase "Groundhog Day" has come to represent going through a phenomenon over and over until one spiritually transcends it.[68]
  • Sega often connects promotions for its Sonic the Hedgehog franchise to February 2, dubbing it "Hedgehog Day". It started with Sonic the Hedgehog 3, a Genesis game released in North America on February 2, 1994. "Hedgehog Day" is also an episode in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book.
  • In the episode "Next Question" of the children's animated show, As Told by Ginger, Carl and Hoodsey liberate the town's groundhog so they can sell scarves remembering their Groundhog, Pete. When the matter is investigated, a monkey, Mr. Licorice, is found in the hole and people think that he ate Pete.
  • In an episode of The O.C titled "The Groundhog Day," Seth Cohen and Che attempt to save the animal used on Groundhog Day in their town of Newport.
  • On January 9, 2006, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office presented installments of the Groundhog 202 film series, a Groundhog Day promotion that played off The Shining. The film shows what happens when the groundhog, stuck inside for 364 days, goes mad with cabin fever. On January 11, 2007, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office presented installments of the Groundhog Crossing film series, a Groundhog Day promotion that depicted the departure of the Shadow from his friend the Groundhog in an attempt to stop the cycle of winter predictions.
  • Nintendo's GameCube game, Animal Crossing celebrates Groundhog Day on February 2nd as well. The mayor of the in-game town mentions it's the day "The groundhog fairy comes around to give groundhogs to all the good little boys and girls" and a mole character takes up the role of Groundhog for the celebrations.

Similar customs

A strikingly similar and almost identical custom is celebrated among Orthodox Christians in Serbia on February 15 (February 2 according to local Julian calendar) during the feast of celebration of Sretenje or The Meeting of the Lord. It is believed that on this day the bear will awake from winter dormancy, and if in this sleepy and confused state it sees (meets) its own shadow, it will get scared and go back to sleep for additional 40 days, thus prolonging the winter. Thus, if it is sunny on Sretenje, it is the sign that the winter is not over yet. If it is cloudy, it is a good sign that the winter is about to end.

In Germany, June 27 is "Siebenschläfertag" (Seven Sleepers Day). If it rains that day, the rest of summer is supposedly going to be rainy. While it might seem to refer to the "Siebenschläfer" squirrel (Glis Glis), also known as the "edible dormouse", it actually commemorates the Seven Sleepers (the actual commemoration day is July 25).

In the United Kingdom, July 15 is known as St. Swithun's day. It is claimed that at one time it was believed if it rained on that day, it would rain for the next 40 days and nights. However, since the probability of such a protracted period of continual rain is virtually nil it is more likely that the belief was simply that the ensuing summer would be wetter than average.

In Alaska, February 2 is observed as Marmot Day rather than Groundhog Day because few groundhogs exist in the state. The holiday was created by a bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in 2009 and signed by then-Governor Sarah Palin that year.[69]

References

  • Cohen, H.; Coffin, T.P. (1987). The Folklore of American Holidays. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research. 
  • Yoder, Don (2003). Groundhog Day. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811700291. 

Notes

  1. ^ Cohen, p. 57.
  2. ^ Yoder, p. i
  3. ^ Yoder, pp. 49-52.
  4. ^ Yoder, p. 43.
  5. ^ Yoder, p. xii.
  6. ^ Rosenberger, Homer Tope (1966). The Pennsylvania Germans: 1891-1965. Lancaster, PA: Pennsylvania German Society. pp. 194–199. OCLC 1745108. 
  7. ^ David Park, Ph.D. (2006). "Happy Groundhog Day to You!". http://www.americandaily.org/document/070202%20Groundhog%20Day.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-02. 
  8. ^ Yoder, p. 9
  9. ^ Yoder, pp. 19-28.
  10. ^ Yoder, pp. 29-30.
  11. ^ Yoder, pp. 30-31.
  12. ^ Yoder, p. 31.
  13. ^ Yoder, pp. 32-33.
  14. ^ a b Yoder, pp. 33.
  15. ^ Groundhog Days Woodstock IL
  16. ^ All About General Beau Lee of the Yellow River Game Ranch
  17. ^ University of Dallas - Student Activities
  18. ^ Yoder, pp. 14-15.
  19. ^ History Society of Berks County, Reading, Pennsylvania.
  20. ^ The attribution to the "Germans" may be based on contemporary hearsay or an isolated reference: there is no commonly known tradition in modern Germany relating Candlemas to the weather.
  21. ^ "About Groundhog Day". Groundhog.org. Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. http://www.groundhog.org/about/. Retrieved 2008-02-04. 
  22. ^ Groundhog Day, Margaret Kruesi. Journal of American Folklore. Washington: Summer 2007. Vol. 120, Iss. 477; pg. 367+
  23. ^ a b Phillips, David. "Groundhog Day". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Foundation of Canada. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC832027. 
  24. ^ "Groundhog Day". Pet Love Shack. http://www.petloveshack.com/groundhog.html. 
  25. ^ Randall, Mike. GROUND HOGS DO NOT AGREE! On 6 More Weeks Of Winter?. WKBW-TV. 2 February 2009. Presented as such in the TV report but not in the online version.
  26. ^ Dymski, Gary (2010-02-02). Brr! LI groundhogs predict 6 more weeks of winter (preview). Newsday. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  27. ^ a b c Vanhoose, Joe (2010-02-03). Furry forecaster sees early spring. Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  28. ^ Spring almost here, Orphie says. Lancaster Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  29. ^ Sir Walter Wally, Punxsutawney Phil disagree on winter's end. Raleigh News Observer (2010-02-02).
  30. ^ Groundhog Central
  31. ^ Groundhog Day 2008 at the Yellow River Game Ranch!
  32. ^ [1], February 2, 2010
  33. ^ Staten Island Chuck makes his Groundhog Day prediction. Staten Island Advance (2010-02-02).
  34. ^ Northwest Herald | Woodstock Willie: An early spring is coming
  35. ^ The Canadian Press: Mix of cheers and groans as Wiarton Willie predicts six more weeks of winter
  36. ^ Snyder, Steve (2010-02-02). Uni's forecast: Early spring. Lebanon Daily News. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  37. ^ Official Dunkirk Dave site Though he did see his shadow, it was invalidated because of artificial lighting.
  38. ^ "Weather-Predicting Groundhogs Don’t Agree". WCMH-TV. 2010-02-02. http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/buckeye_chuck_to_make_predicition_today/31091/. 
  39. ^ "Alberta's Balzac Billy disagrees with Ontario's Wiarton Willie about 6 more weeks of winter". Template:The Province. 2010-02-02. http://www.theprovince.com/life/Wiarton+Willie+agrees+with+Shubenacadie+Punxsutawney+Phil+more+weeks+winter/2512317/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+canwest/F228+(The+Province+-+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader. 
  40. ^ [2]
  41. ^ [3]
  42. ^ [4]
  43. ^ Marmot Adventures Groundhog Day 2010
  44. ^ N.C. Groundhog, Hog Differ On Winter Weather Outlook - News Story - WSOC Charlotte
  45. ^ West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio
  46. ^ Buckeye Chuck Makes Prediction: 6 More Weeks | NBC4i.com
  47. ^ Groundhog bites Bloomberg at ceremony; on LI, Holtsville Hal sees shadow; Malverne Mel does not
  48. ^ Daily Herald | Woodstock Willie: Bundle up; more winter ahead
  49. ^ Sun Prairie Chamber Of Commerce: Groundhog Day
  50. ^ LancasterOnline.com:News:Orphie says: Button up!
  51. ^ Staten Island Chuck predicts spring is near. Staten Island Live news alert. 2 February 2009.
  52. ^ a b "No surprises as Wiarton Willy and pals predict more winter". London Free Press. 2009-02-02. http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/02/02/8234661.html. 
  53. ^ "Groundhog Predicts More Winter Weather". Associated Press. 200-02-02. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h9QyJTGgYYlXk_v2-dys7Cz9BCsgD8UI7EQ80. 
  54. ^ Dunkirk Dave predicts early spring. Dunkirk Observer news alert. 2 February 2009.
  55. ^ Marmot Adventures Groundhog 2008
  56. ^ "Groundhog Predicts More Winter Weather". Associated Press. 2008-02-02. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h9QyJTGgYYlXk_v2-dys7Cz9BCsgD8UI7EQ80. 
  57. ^ "Wisconsin's Jimmy the groundhog predicts an early spring". Associated Press (WBAY-TV). 2008-02-03. http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7815124. 
  58. ^ West, Shirley (2008-02-03). "Early spring? Dunkirk Dave says yes!". Dunkirk Observer. http://www.observertoday.com/articles.asp?articleID=19028. 
  59. ^ Limey, Franklin. Pat Lane Calls Early Spring Yet Again! Yankee Herald 3 February 2008.
  60. ^ a b c "Canada's groundhogs agree: Spring's coming early". CTV. 2008-02-02. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080202/groundhog_day_080202/20080202?hub=TopStories. 
  61. ^ Stradling, Richard. "2008-02-03". The News & Observer. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/920232.html. 
  62. ^ a b Lytle, Steve (2008-02-02). "Charlotte's groundhog sees shadow". The Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/474658.html. 
  63. ^ a b "An early spring, says Malverne Mel". Newsday. 2008-02-02. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-liground0202,0,1636022.story. 
  64. ^ ""West Indies Wilbur" Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter". Live From St. Kitts. 2008-02-02. http://livefromstkitts.dreamhosters.com/2008/02/02/west-indies-wilbur-predicts-six-more-weeks-of-winter/. 
  65. ^ "Buckeye Chuck Fails to See Shadow". WCMH. 2008-02-02. http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-02-02-0002.html. 
  66. ^ Marmot Adventures Stormy the Prognosticator
  67. ^ Groundhog Day (1993)
  68. ^ "The spiritual power of repetitive form: Steps toward transcendence in Groundhog Day." Suzanne Daughton, Critical Studies in Mass Communication. Annandale: Jun 1996. Vol. 13, Iss. 2; pg. 138, 17 pgs
  69. ^ The Associated Press. "Alaska to celebrate its first Marmot Day," Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Feb. 1, 2010. Accessed Feb. 1, 2010.

Further reading

  • Aaron, Michael A., Brewster B. Boyd, Jr., Melanie J. Curtis, Paul M. Sommers, Punxsutawney's Phenomenal Phorecaster. The College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan., 2001), pp. 26-29 doi 10.2307/2687216
  • Old, W. C., and P. Billin-Frye. The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman, 2004.
  • Pulling, A. F. Around Punxsutawney. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia, 2001.

External links

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Quotes

Up to date as of January 14, 2010
(Redirected to Groundhog Day (film) article)

From Wikiquote

Well, it's Groundhog Day... again...

Groundhog Day is a 1993 film about a weather man doomed to repeat the same day over and over again.

Directed by Harold Ramis. Written by Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis.
He's having the worst day of his life... over, and over...
Spoiler warning: Plot, ending, or solution details follow.

Contents

Phil Connors

This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.
  • This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.
  • I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster, drank Piña Coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over and over?
  • There is no way this winter is ever going to end, as long as this groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don't see any other way out. He's got to be stopped. And I have to stop him.
  • When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.

Dialogue

Ned: Phil? Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!
Phil: Hi, thanks for watching. BAM!!!!
Ned: Hey now, don't you tell me you don't remember me 'cause I sure as heckfire remember you.
Phil: Not a chance.
Ned: Ned... Ryerson. "Needlenose Ned"? "Ned the Head"? C'mon, buddy. Case Western High. I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?
Phil: Ned Ryerson?
Ned: BING!
Phil: Bing.
Phil: It's the same things your whole life. "Clean up your room!", "Stand up straight!", "Pick up your feet!", "Take it like a man!", "Be nice to your sister!", "Don't mix beer and wine, ever!". Oh yeah — "Don't drive on the railroad tracks!"
Gus: Eh, Phil... That's one I happen to agree with.
Rita: I'm sorry? What was that again?
Phil: I'm a god.
Rita: You're God.
Phil: I'm a god — I'm not the God, I don't think.
Rita: Because you survived a car wreck?
Phil: I didn't just survive a wreck; I wasn't just blown up yesterday. I have been stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted and burned.
Rita: Oh really?
Phil: [nods] Every morning I wake up without a scratch on me, not a dent in the fender: I am an immortal.
Rita: Why are you telling me this?
Phil: Because I want you to believe in me.
Rita: You're not a god. You can take my word for it; this is 12 years of Catholic school talkin'.
Phil: Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
Mrs. Lancaster: I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen.
Phil: What if there were no tomorrow?
Gus: No tomorrow? That would mean there would be no consequences, there would be no hangovers. We could do whatever we wanted!
Phil: [thinking] That's true. We could do...whatever we wanted.

Cast

External links

Wikipedia
Wikipedia has an article about:

Wiktionary

Up to date as of January 14, 2010

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents

English

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Wikipedia

Etymology 1

Proper noun

Singular
Groundhog Day

Plural
-

Groundhog Day

  1. An annual festival held in Canada and the USA on February 2 in which the arrival time of the spring season is predicted by whether or not a certain groundhog can see its shadow or not.
Translations
  • Russian: День сурка m.
  • Ukrainian: День бабака m.

Etymology 2

From the film Groundhog Day.

Proper noun

Singular
Groundhog Day

Plural
-

Groundhog Day

  1. (informal) A situation in which undesirable events appear to be repeating themselves in a cyclical fashion.

Simple English

Groundhog Day is a holiday on February 2. It is usually celebrated in North America. It marks about 6 weeks before the end of Winter. It began in the year 1886. This holiday celebrates "Punxsutawney Phil", a groundhog that could supposedly forecast the weather.

Other websites


Retrieved from "http://yak.rapint.com/wiki/Groundhog_Day"







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