History of Groundhog Day in Timeline
Groundhog Day is a tradition celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2nd. Rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch superstition, the event centers on a groundhog's emergence from its burrow. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it supposedly retreats, predicting six more weeks of winter. If no shadow is seen, an early spring is anticipated. In 2025, the groundhog saw its shadow, foretelling a longer winter.
1900: Hedgehog Predicted Length of Winter
In 1900, Samuel Adams Drake's book mentioned a belief among Roman Catholics in Britain that the hedgehog predicted the length of winter, though its age wasn't demonstrated.
1902: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1902, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1915: Groundhog Day Common to all Fourteen Counties
In 1915, it was noted in a monograph that the weather superstition surrounding Groundhog Day on February second was common to all fourteen counties in Dutch Pennsylvania Country.
1934: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1934, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1942: Death of Clymer Freas
In 1942, Clymer Freas, the city editor at the Punxsutawney Spirit who is credited as the "father" of Groundhog Day, passed away.
1942: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1942, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1943: Event Canceled Due to War
In 1943, the Groundhog Day event was canceled due to World War II.
1946: Badger Day Tradition Absent in the British Isles
In 1946, scholar Rhys Carpenter emphasized that the Badger Day tradition was strong in Germany, but absent in the British Isles, suggesting the U.S. Groundhog Day tradition didn't originate from British immigrants.
1950: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1950, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1952: Sun Prairie Title
In 1952, the Punxsutawney Spirit described Sun Prairie as a "remote two cow village buried somewhere in the wilderness..."
1960: Dunkirk Dave Prediction
Since 1960, Dunkirk Dave has been the local groundhog for Western New York, predicting the harshness of the remainder of winter.
1961: Groundhog Named Phil
In 1961, the groundhog was officially named Phil, possibly as an indirect reference to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
1968: Chuckles' First Prediction
In 1968, Chuckles, a self-proclaimed woodchuck, began providing regional weather prognostication in Manchester, Connecticut at the Lutz Children's Museum.
1969: Accuracy Assessment
Beginning in 1969, local weather data was more reliable and therefore the accuracy of Punxsutawney Phil was able to be better estimated.
1970: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1970, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1975: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1975, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1978: French Creek Freddie Debuts
In 1978, French Creek Freddie, West Virginia's resident groundhog meteorologist, debuted at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center.
1979: Jack Frost Holiday Special
In 1979, the Rankin/Bass holiday special Jack Frost featured Pardon-Me Pete, a groundhog whose shadow is manipulated by Jack Frost. This was to buy more time to use his wintery magic to protect January Junction from the villain.
1983: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1983, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1986: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1986, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1987: Tradition at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park
Since 1987, the tradition of Shubenacadie Sam making the first Groundhog Day prediction in North America has been at Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Wildlife Park.
1988: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1988, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1990: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1990, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1993: Release of "Groundhog Day" film
In 1993, the comedy film "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, was released. The film's success, grossing over $70 million, and its subsequent cult classic status, significantly boosted international awareness and attendance at Groundhog Day events.
1995: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1995, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1996: Mel begins his position
In 1996, "Malverne Mel" began his position as the groundhog of Malverne, in Long Island, New York.
1997: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1997, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
1999: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 1999, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2007: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 2007, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2008: Milltown Mel Purchased
In 2008, Milltown Mel was purchased in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, by Jerry and Cathy Guthlein.
2009: Fred la marmotte Forecaster
From 2009, Fred la marmotte of Val-d'Espoir was the representative forecaster for the province of Quebec.
2009: Chuck Bites Mayor Bloomberg
In 2009, Staten Island Chuck bit then-NYC-Mayor Mike Bloomberg, leading to his replacement with his daughter Charlotte.
2011: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 2011, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2012: Phil's First Appearance
From his first appearance in 2012, Potomac Phil's predictions always agreed with Punxsutawney Phil.
2013: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 2013, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2014: Buffalo Bert Added
In 2014, Buffalo Bert was added as an additional groundhog in Buffalo, as a joke predicting winter.
2014: De Blasio Drops Charlotte
In 2014, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped Charlotte during the ceremony, and Charlotte's subsequent death a week later prompted rumors that she was killed by the fall.
2015: Birmingham Bill on Break
In 2015, Birmingham Bill, at Birmingham Zoo, was "taking a break" from predicting.
2015: Jimmy Bites Mayor
In 2015, Jimmy the Groundhog bit the ear of Mayor Jon Freund in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, leading to a viral story.
2016: Roche's Accuracy Assessment
In 2016, Meteorologist Tim Roche of Weather Underground gives Phil an 36% accuracy rate between 1969 and 2016.
2016: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 2016, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2018: Accused of Collusion
In 2018, Potomac Phil was accused of collusion.
2019: Political Insanity Predicted
In 2019, Potomac Phil predicted two more years of political insanity, contradicting Punxsutawney Phil.
2019: Groundhog Day Prediction
In 2019, for the 133rd year of the tradition, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring.
2019: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 2019, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2019: Accuracy Assesment
The National Centers for Environmental Information, using a basic metric of above-normal temperatures for early spring and below-normal temperatures for more winter, placed Punxsutawney Phil's accuracy at 40% for the ten-year period preceding 2019.
2020: Greta Predicts
In 2020, Great Neck Greta, of Great Neck, Long Island, New York, made her prediction.
2020: Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
In 2020, the groundhog did not see its shadow, calling for an early Spring.
2020: Punxsutawney Population
In 2020, the year-round population of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was 5,769.
2020: Winnipeg Wyn Dies
Winnipeg Wyn, who had been forecasting since the 2010s, died in 2020.
2021: Death of Milltown Mel
In 2021, Milltown Mel of Milltown, New Jersey, passed away. Subsequently, the state prohibited the procurement of a replacement groundhog.
2021: Lakehead University Study on Groundhog Predictions
In 2021, a Lakehead University study analyzed 530 predictions from 33 weather-predicting groundhogs, using the blossoming of the Carolina Spring Beauty as an indicator of spring's arrival. The study concluded that groundhog predictions are essentially random, with an average accuracy of 50%.
2021: COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 135th Groundhog Day ceremony was held behind closed doors. Punxsutawney Phil saw its shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
2022: Sir Walter Wally Retires
In 2022, Sir Walter Wally retired, leaving Snerd of Garner as the only weather-predicting groundhog in North Carolina.
2022: 136th Celebration
In 2022, the 136th Groundhog Day celebration was held in person, and the groundhog saw its shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
2022: Freddie Predicts Winter
On Groundhog Day, 2022, French Creek Freddie predicted six more weeks of winter, with the mayor of Buckhannon and members of the community in attendance.
2023: Fred la marmotte Death
In 2023, Fred la marmotte of Val-d'Espoir died.
2023: 137th Prognostication Event
In 2023, during the 137th prognostication event, the groundhog saw its shadow, calling for six more weeks of winter.
2024: Chuckles Predicts Early Spring
In 2024, Chuckles predicted an early spring but Winter Storm Birch followed soon after, prompting the local police department of Guilford, Connecticut to issue a warrant and dubbing the rodent "Chuck the Liar".
2025: Shadow Seen, Six More Weeks of Winter Predicted
In 2025, the groundhog saw its shadow, calling for six more weeks of winter during the 139th prognostication event.
2025: Shadow Seen, Winter Predicted
In 2025, the groundhog saw its shadow, which according to tradition, indicates that winter will continue for six more weeks.
