Groundhog Day is observed every year on February 2. It began in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, when newspaper editor Clymer Freas organized a public event at Gobbler’s Knob to watch a groundhog predict the weather. According to tradition, if the groundhog—known as Punxsutawney Phil—sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks; if he does not, an early spring is expected.
The custom comes from German Candlemas traditions, where animals such as badgers were believed to forecast seasonal changes. German settlers in Pennsylvania replaced the badger with the groundhog, which was common in the region.
Today, thousands gather in Punxsutawney to watch the prediction, and the event is widely broadcast and discussed each year. Phil’s accuracy, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes is roughly 35%, making him more of a cultural icon than a scientific meteorologist.
When is Groundhog Day Celebrated?
Groundhog Day is observed every year on February 2. The table below shows the date and corresponding day of the week in upcoming years.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | February 2, Monday |
| 2027 | February 2, Tuesday |
| 2028 | February 2, Wednesday |
| 2029 | February 2, Friday |
| 2030 | February 2, Saturday |
Groundhog Day in Popular Culture
Groundhog Day entered popular culture largely through the 1993 film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray. The film follows a television weatherman, Phil Connors, who relives February 2 repeatedly, turning the holiday into a clear metaphor for repetition, routine, and personal change. Since then, the phrase Groundhog Day has been widely used to describe situations that repeat without progress.
The film’s time-loop idea has influenced later storytelling, appearing in television series such as The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Russian Doll, where repeated days are used to explore problem-solving and character development.
At the same time, Punxsutawney Phil has become a recurring media figure. His annual prediction is broadcast nationally, live-streamed, and widely shared online, with appearances on shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Today have established him as the central figure of this yearly observance.
