The Legend of Groundhog Day

—Mary Gillick, Environmental Educator

In agricultural regions of Europe, the end of fall season was marked by the harvest in October, around the celebration of Halloween.  By the end of January, people would be eager for signs of spring, and they began to predict when hibernating hedgehogs would wake up.  The tradition took place at the same time as Candlemas Day — February 2 — when candles would be distributed for winter and a celebration of the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. 

When immigrants came to America, they brought these traditions with them, but substituted hedgehogs with a local rodent, the groundhog. Groundhogs spend the winter months underground in a state of torpor or hibernation. They are true hibernators, meaning their breathing and heart rate drops to a fraction of their active metabolism. See the activity below to learn how to mimic the breathing rat of a hibernating rodent.

The lore of Groundhog Day revolves around predicting the weather.  If the groundhog sees his shadow on a sunny day, then the month of February will continue to be cold.  If there are clouds and no shadow, then spring is close by.

It is the male groundhogs that emerge from hibernation in February only to find a female mate.  They return to their den for another month until vegetation begins to sprout and spring is back once again! Groundhog Day is next Wednesday, February 2nd, so be on the lookout for what the groundhog sees. Are you looking forward to an early spring or are you looking forward to a few more snowy days?