Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada (having originated in the town of Punxsatawney, Pennsylvania).

It is the day when people look to the groundhog (also known as woodchucks, or marmots) to predict the weather for the next six weeks. Folklore says that if the sun is shining when the ground hog comes out of his burrow(λαγούμι, φωλιά), then the groundhog will go back into its burrow and we will have winter for six more weeks. However, if it is cloudy, then spring will come early that year.

The origins of Groundhog Day can be traced to German settlers (άποικοι) in Pennsylvania. These settlers celebrated February 2nd as Candlemas Day. On this day if the sun came out then there would be six more weeks of wintry weather. In 1886 the Punxsutawney newspaper declared February 2nd as Groundhog Day and named the local groundhog as Punxsutawney Phil.

There are a number of celebrations throughout the United States. The largest celebration takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil has predicted the weather each year since 1886. Large crowds of well over 10,000 people gather here to see Phil come out of his burrow at around 7:30am. Punxsutawney Phil normally lives in a nice climate controlled home in the local library throughout most of the year. He is moved up to Gobbler’s Knob on February 2nd, where he makes his annual (ετήσιος) weather prediction. Phil was named after King Phillip.

How accurate (ακριβείς)  the predictions of the groundhogs are is up for debate. People who organize the day say that they are very accurate. However, others say it’s just luck.

The 1993 movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and made the holiday even more popular.

adapted from: https://www.ducksters.com/holidays/groundhog_day.php

Have a look at this short video:

https://video.link/w/4fhPb

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