What Day Is It?Groundhog Day is on February 2 every year. The next one is February 2, 2027, a Tuesday. If the groundhog sees its shadow, the story goes, winter lasts six more weeks. If not, spring comes early.
Where did it come from?
The tradition grew out of Candlemas, a Christian feast on February 2 with old weather sayings of its own. German settlers brought those customs to Pennsylvania and applied them to the local groundhog. The town of Punxsutawney dates its official celebration to 1887.
How does it work now?
At sunrise, a crowd gathers on Gobbler’s Knob, a small hill just outside Punxsutawney. Members of the local groundhog club, in top hats, lift Punxsutawney Phil out of his burrow and announce whether he saw his shadow. The event is streamed live and followed across the United States and Canada.
Is Phil ever right?
Not very often. Figures quoted from US weather records put him at around four correct calls in ten, which is less reliable than a coin toss. The groundhog club, of course, insists he is never wrong.
The film
The 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, with Bill Murray, follows a weatherman who lives the same February 2 again and again. It made the town famous around the world, and "Groundhog Day" became an everyday phrase in English for something that keeps repeating.
Groundhog Day dates
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 2 | Monday |
| 2027 | February 2 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | February 2 | Wednesday |
Frequently asked questions
Does a shadow mean more winter or an early spring?
A shadow means six more weeks of winter. No shadow means an early spring.
Is Groundhog Day a public holiday?
No. It is a popular tradition, and schools and offices stay open.