10 Ways to Celebrate Groundhog Day with Activities, Movies and Food
75Groundhog Photo
February 2nd - Groundhog Day
On towards the end of January, the winter blah’s might get to you, but there’s something to look forward to in the beginning of February. Groundhog Day is February 2nd. If you’ve never celebrated Groundhog Day, then this is the year to start. In the middle of winter, with spring somewhere over the horizon, what better excuse do you need to have a celebration?
Groundhog Day Traditions Evolved from Candlemas
You may be surprised to learn that the traditions of Groundhog Day, February 2nd, have roots in Candlemas, an early Christian holiday. On this day, candles were blessed and distributed. It was believed that clear skies on Candlemas, February 2nd meant a long winter. When the tradition of Candlemas came to Germany, the story was enhanced. They predicted that if a hedgehog came out on Candlemas Day and saw his shadow, it would mean a long winter. When Germans settled in this country, they brought the tradition with them, and the weather prediction ability was bestowed upon the groundhog.
10 Ways to Celebrate Groundhog Day
Whether you are in for 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring, Groundhog Day is a great excuse to have a celebration. Here are ten ways to celebrate Groundhog Day that are sure to brighten your winter day.
1. Visit Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Visit Punxsutawney for the annual Groundhog’s Day celebration. People gather upon Gobbler's Knob at the crack of dawn to watch for Punxsutawney Phil to come out of his burrow. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. If not, spring is on the way! If you can't travel to Punxsutawney, then tune in to the live stream on February 2nd to watch the great event yourself.
Punxsutawney Phil Video
Visit Punxsutawney, PA on February 2nd.
Punxsutawney PA - Visit Punxsutawney, PA on February 2nd for a personal look at Punxsutawney Phil.
2. Watch Bill Murray's 1993 movie Groundhog Day.
One of the all-time funny movies, brighten up your Groundhog Day celebration by renting or purchasing the video of Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.
Groundhog Day with Bill Murray
Buy your own copy of the Groundhog Day Movie starring Bill Murray
 | Amazon Price: $6.94 List Price: $14.99 |
The Groundhog Day Song by Helen Slayton Hughes
3. Sing along with the Groundhog Day Song
I'll bet you didn't know there was a Groundhog Day song. Be sure to watch the video of the Groundhog Day Song written by Helen Slayton Hughes. Maybe you can learn it and have a Groundhog Day Sing-along!
“We’ll light the big green candle, and eat some rhubarb pie,
Gimme a kiss, it’s Groundhog Day and groundhogs do not lie…”
4. Have a Groundhog Day Look-alike Party
Invite all your friends to come to your house dressed as groundhogs. Give prizes for the ones who look most like a real groundhog. Be creative and serve some really great food: Groundhog Stew for starters, and Dirt Pie for dessert! See the recipes below!
5. Make Groundhog Stew
Let's face it, carnivores, there are a lot of these plump critters out there eating up gardens and crops all summer long. Why not have a nice groundhog stew simmering on the back of the stove to celebrate Groundhogs Day? Here's the recipe:
First of all, you need to send your hunter out to get one of those critters. If he’s lucky enough to bag one, be sure to tell him to skin it and gut it before bringing it in for you to cook. Here’s how to make easy Groundhog Stew:
Easy Groundhog Stew
Cut groundhog into large pieces, put them in a large pot ad cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Discard the water, refill the pan and bring to a boil again. Simmer for about an hour and a half. Fish out that woodchuck (keep the liquid) and remove the meat from the bones. Cut meat into bitesized pieces and return to pot. Add potatoes and carrots, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. You can add dumpling batter to the pot, cover tightly and cook for 10-12 more minutes for a heartier meal. Yum!
Cute way to serve Dirt Pie from "Thrilled by the Thought"
6. Serve Some Dirt Pie
Here's a cute recipe to make on Groundhog Day and an ever cuter way to serve it with little Groundhogs glued to popsicle sticks popping out of the individual cups. Idea from Thrilled by the Thought.
Recipe for Dirt Pie
1 large package Oreo cookies
1 c. powdered sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
2 packages of instant vanilla pudding
3 1/2 c. milk
12 oz. container of Cool Whip
Crush Oreo cookies in food processor or with a rolling pin until cookies are fine crumbs and set aside. Mix butter, cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Mix pudding with the milk, then blend in the Cool Whip. Combine pudding and cream cheese mixture together until lumps are smooth.
Dirt Pie can be made in an rectangular 9" X 13" pan or in individual clear cups, layer the cookie mixture and pudding mixture, leaving enough cookie mixture for the top.
Cute Groundhog Video Clips
7. Learn some Groundhog Trivia
- All groundhogs have 22 teeth.
- Groundhogs whistle when alarmed or when they are courting.
- A groundhog is a vegetarian and eat greens, fruits and vegetables.
- The average groundhog weighs 12-15 pounds, but Punxsutawney Phil weighs 20 pounds.
- Groundhogs hibernate and each one has his own burrow.
- Groundhog burrows have two doorways.
- Groundhogs can swim and climb trees
- Groundhogs can run up to 9 miles an hour.
- A baby groundhog is called a kit or a cub.
- The average life span of a groundhog is 6-8 years.
- Groundhogs can lose half their body weight during hibernation.
- They don't taste like chicken.
8. Read a Groundhog Day Book to Your Kids
There's a whole selection of cute books for kids based on Groundhog Day stories. Why not check them out?
- Gretchen Groundhog, It’s Your Day
- Gregory’s Shadow
- Punxsutawney Phyllis
- It’s Groundhog Day
- Substitute Groundhog
- Geoffrey Groundhog
- Punsxsutawney Phil and His Weather Wisdom
Groundhog Stories for Kids
 | Amazon Price: $20.19 List Price: $21.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $2.20 List Price: $6.99 |
Punxsutawney Phyllis and Phil
 | Amazon Price: $2.50 List Price: $6.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $4.00 |
9. Get up at Dawn and Go Watch a Groundhog Hole
You can start your own tradition by getting up at dawn and keeping an eye on your nearest groundhog hole. Who knows, you may discover Cleveland Chloe or Okachobee Otis and be famous next year on Feb. 2nd as people flock to see your discovery!
Happy Groundhog Day Birthday, Jeff Henkel
10. Have Some Birthday Cake
In honor of famous people born on Febuary 2nd, have a piece of birthday cake! Some famous people born on Feb. 2nd are:
- Ayan Rand
- James Joyce
- Shakira
- Christie Brinkley
- Farrah Fawcett
- Tom Smothers
- Graham Nash
- AND, most importantly, Jeffrey Henkel
That's right! February 2nd is special in our house because it's the birthday of a very special person, my son, Jeff Henkel. You can believe that he has heard a few jokes about having a birthday on Groundhog's Day. Well, at least we didn't name him Chuck. So join us in celebrating Groundhog Day with a piece of birthday cake in Jeff's honor!
What will you do on Groundhog Day?
How will you celebrate Groundhog Day
See results without votingHave a Happy Groundhog Day!
So there you have it - 10 ways to celebrate Groundhog's Day. There's something for everyone, from the movie buff to the naturalist, so take your pick, and do have a happy Groundhog Day celebration!
_________________________________________________________
Copyright ©2012 Stephanie Henkel
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More Links about Groundhogs
- Groundhog Day: Home
Looking for answers to your Groundhog Day questions? You've come to the right spot! - Do You Celebrate Groundhog Day?
- Pest In My Garden
What was that eating my flowers? - Happy Groundhog Day (Spring As Far As I'm Concerned)
February 2 - Groundhog Day. It's Spring as far as I'm concerned, and I don't care if if another eight feet of snow is dumped on us, here in Massachusetts, or not. I'm not a big fan of Winter in the first place, so every year it's... - Hedgehog Cake - a Chocolate Cake Recipe
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Great hub! I have to get to Punxsutawney one day. I'd like to see the spectacle just once. The Bill Murray movie is a must-see for Groundhog day as well--so funny! I guess I'd add one more thing: play the PA Lotto of Groundhog Day, as suggested by Gus, PA's second most famous groundhog. It might be a lucky day! ;) Voted up and sharing :)
I had no idea there was a Groundhog Day song. Thanks for sharing! This year I am celebrating Groundhog Day by going to the dentist. Honestly, that is really not a celebration, but it was the only day available. As long as I don't have cavities, I will celebrate! Cute hub and voted up!
Diogenes - I don't know how you got here so fast - my "Publish" button is still warm! I agree - Groundhog Day is a funny movie, and I love Bill Murray! Yes, I think groundhogs are cute. We actually had one as a pet years ago, and it was so much fun. Unfortunately, most farmers don't like them very much!
ThePracticalMommy - Ahh, playing the PA Lotto on Groundhog day might just be a lucky thing to do! :) Thanks much for the votes and the share!
Jeannieinabottle - I didn't know that there was a Groundhog Day song, either, until today. But I did think it was cute! Sorry to hear about your Groundhog Day being spent with the dentist! You can celebrate with a nice pot of groundhog stew when you're done... :)
Oh, that movie is one of the funniest of all time! And as a person of 'veggie persuasion,' I think I'll just cut to the birthday cake. ;-)
Many, many years ago, an aunt of mine, in trying to come up with things to entertain her elderly and house-bound mother, invited the family over for an impromptu Groundhog's Day Party. I forget all the nonsense that went on, but I know it involved silly hats, crazy names for things on the menu, and probably, knowing that aunt, a game of Groundhog-Themed Scrabble!
Isn't it interesting, though, about the tradition--the official end of winter IS amost exactly 6 weeks from February 2nd, shadow or not! ;-)
Voted up, funny, interesting and shared!
DzyMsLizzy - A Groundhog's Day party sounds like just the thing to add some excitement to the mid-winter blahs! Your aunt sounds very creative! I have to admit that I haven't tried the groundhog stew myself...But I might just make some Dirt Pie and birthday cake! Thanks so much for your comments, for voting and sharing!
Stephanie: I read the story yesterday...it keeps repeating! Bob
Bob - I think you're having delusions of Bill Murray ... just lie down for a while, you'll feel better soon...
Love this! The ideas are so cute and I'm glad you wrote about a day most people don't even think twice about.
Are there groundhogs in Southern California? I don't think I've ever seen one, so probably no. I choose the dirt pie then for my celebration. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Awesome hub! I learned so much reading it. I think we'll plan to enjoy one of the books and some dirt cake as we celebrate for the first time ever :) Well done.
Kimberly Turner - It's true that most people don't pay much attention to celebrating Groundhog Day, but it can be a fun break from the winter doldrums. Thanks for the read and for commenting.
Alocsin - I don't know for sure if there are groundhogs in Southern California, but I'm guessing not. But do enjoy your dirt pie! Thanks for your comments and vote!
Thebookmom - I was surprised at the number of children's books featuring groundhogs. It would be fun to celebrate Groundhog Day by reading some of them together while enjoying a dirt pie dessert. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Too cute! Sort a should a seen that coming... :) Happy upcoming BD Jeff!
RTalloni - Haha...you can see why Groundhog Day is special to me! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment!
Awesome topic for a hub, Stephanie! Your suggestion list is great. The movie really created a whole new life for this little holiday.
Awesome Hub!! I live about 45 minutes away from Punxy. I enjoy stopping by to see the groundhog.
Randomcreative - The movie did shine a spotlight on Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil, didn't it? And Groundhog Day is a great excuse for a midwinter celebration. :) Thanks for the read!
Rorshak Sobchak - I've never been to Punxsutawney, but it sounds like it would be fun to do some day. Say hi to Phil when you see him this year! :)
Yeah, I remembered seeing "Groundhog Day" the movie -- very funny.
I’ve celebrated early by learning a few facts about groundhogs.They can run pretty fast for such small creatures. I loved the film, which was also my introduction to groundhogs.
Thanks for a fun hub.
BlissfulWriter - It was a funny movie, but I enjoy watching real groundhogs almost as much. They are cute and entertaining creatures - as long as they aren't eating up your vegetable garden!
Melovy - Groundhogs can run pretty fast considering how clumsy they look. We used to see them in the field near our house quite often, and they are pretty chubby in mid summer, but they can still scoot down into their burrows pretty quickly. Thanks for the read and comments!
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen the movie, it's one of the all time greats!
I loved this hub, we don't have groundhogs in the UK, but I'm going to celebrate anyway with some dirt pie!
Voting up!
The dirt pie was a funny idea! Many of us Brits had not even heard of this day until the movie lol. Interesting hub,
Thanks for SHARING.
Excellent ideas for my classroom this year! Thanks so much for the ideas!!!
Thanks for SHARING!
Movie Master - If you have hedgehogs in the UK, they make a fine stand in for groundhogs. Mmmm... enjoy the dirt pie! Thanks for stopping in to read and comment!
Brett.Tesol - That's the great thing about HubPages - we learn so much about the UK, and get a chance to share some of our more silly holidays, too. Thanks for the comments and for sharing!
CassyLu - Glad you founds some good ideas to celebrate Groundhog Day with your class. If you make the dirt pie, don't forget to drop in a few gummy worms... Thanks for stopping in to comment and for Sharing!
Hi, I have decided that we in England need to start celebrating Groundhog day! lol! I loved this! they are so cute, and the videos were really good, I remember the film so well, and for years thought it was just the name of the film! haha! rated up and shared! wonderful!
Nell Rose - Oh, I think you should celebrate Groundhog Day! Any excuse for a celebration, right? :) Thanks so much for your comments and for the share!
Sweet! It won't surprise you but my dad eats a lot of groundhog. He hasn't caught any since he moved to the south. I think many northerners are still upset with Phil for last year's winters. :) Very nice hub!
Tammyswallow - If I had only known that your Dad likes groundhog, I would have asked you for some good recipes! Yes, poor Phil gets blamed for all the bad winters, and all he does is stick his head out of his burrow! Thanks for visiting, Tammy!
Hehee, I absolutely love these ideas- especially groundhog cake. How adorable!
Simone - Any excuse for a little celebration! hehehe... Thanks for stopping in!
Hi, Stephanie. Loved the Hub but I have to admit that I didn't know groundhogs really existed. I thought they were simply a fictional species created for the Bill Murray film (which I love!) Thanks for the info, the great read and the enlightenment! :)
Gordon Hamilton - In the Northeast U.S., groundhogs are commonly seen in fields, along roadsides, and often, in your garden. They're mostly considered a pest, though they are awfully cute close-up. Glad you found the hub interesting! Happy Groundhog Day! :)
One of my favorite movies is of course Ground Hogs Day! I loved this Hub. Very cute and informative. Voting up and across..ANDDDDDDD.. Congratulations on "HUB OF THE DAY"
I'm happy to be following such a talented writer!
Lisa
Congratulations on another Hub of the Day award. This hub was delightful and funny.
Happy birthday to your son, Jeff. Being born on Ground Hog Day must be tough but having a Mom who knows how to do so many clever things for this special day must have made for some interesting birthday celebrations.
Voted up across the board!
Stopping by again to say congrats on the Hub of the Day! And Happy Birthday to your son! :)
This hub was fun! Really enjoyed it and all the facts, ideas, trivia, etc., etc.! Groundhogs are cute little things, aren't they?
Thanks!
...and CONGRATS!
So clever & fun! Happy Groundhog Day, Stephanie--and congrats on HOTD!
Congratulations on hub of the day! What an appropriate day for it. Great hub ... not so sure about groundhog stew however.
Wonderful hub, and learned more about Groundhogs. God Bless You Precious heart for this nice way to start our wet day down south in Louisiana. We just had pouring down rain yesterday all day.
Excellent hub Stephanie, love the photos as well....
Comment and question:
I love Nietzsche, so whenever I explain eternal recurrence to someone, they reply back: "Groundhog Day"...LOL
Does anyone own groundhogs? They are so irresistible cute, so wonder they're not sold as pets, if, that's even legal?
Take care and God Bless
John
Great hub! Now if I could just go find a groundhog to make some stew with . . .
How about that--your son won you the Hub of the Day Award. :)
Congrats, and once again, happy birthday to Jeffrey Henkel!
Great list! Though the groundhog stew thing . . . a bit much for me. :-) Congrats on the Hub of the Day! I'll be watching "Groundhog Day" later today.
Very cute hub Stephanie and Happy Birthday to Jeff. The stew is the only thing I won't do on Groundhog day. lol
You did an amazing job!!!!
RTalloni - He always was a good boy! :) Thank you!
I use to live near a huge field of groundhogs in the Denver area. There must have been 100 or more, all popping their heads in and out, making little chattery hissing sounds if you got too close. Yet I never thought to stop by on groundhog day. It must be quite a party there...:)
Thank you Gail! I must admit that this was a very fun hub to write as the day has special meaning in our family. Thanks for stopping by to comment and for your votes!
Rusticliving - So glad you liked he hub, and thank you for the good wishes and very kind commetns. I'm pleased to have you following me!
ThePracticalMommy - Welcome back, and thanks for the congrats and birthday wishes for Jeff! :)
Bluebird - Groundhogs are cute, and it's fun to have a day named after them. Glad you enjoyed the hub! Love your bluebird avatar, by the way!
The Dirt Farmer - Happy Groundhog Day to you, too! Though, depending on where you are farming, you may not be as fond of groundhogs as we are. :) Thanks for the congrats and for the read!
Homesteadbound - Thank you. I was so pleased to see my groundhog day hub as HOTD on Feb. 2nd! Hahah.. I don't plan on making groundhog stew either - in fact, I've never had it! I'd much rather try to take their photographs than cook them!
Stars439 - Well, if you're having a rainy day today, it means the groundhog won't see his shadow, and that's an indicator of an early spring! Thanks so much for your kind comments!
John Sarkis - In most states it is illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet, and I imagine that would include groundhogs. However, we did once find a baby whose mother had been killed and raised it in our house. It was adorable and as loving and playful as a kitten. In fact, it was litter box trained. As it got older, we let it go in and out of our house at will. One day it answered the call of the wild and left for good. We liked to imagine that it found a mate and raised a family nearby somewhere.
Thanks for stopping in to read and comment!
Julianamontgomery - Oh, you can always make some dirt pie to celebrate Groundhog Day instead of groundhog stew. :)
SJmorningsun25 - I know that some people eat groundhog, but it really isn't one of my food groups, either! I'll stick to some of the other ways to celebrate Groundhog Day!
So this is what groundhog is all about. It shows up in my iphone calendar and I was like what is groundhog day?
Marellen - No, I won't be doing the stew, either. :) Thanks so much for your comment!
LucidWarrior - It sounds like you were near a prairie dog village...they're probably related to the larger groundhogs that we see in the Northeast. If you see them today, do wish them a happy Groundhog Day!
Jakefranco - Yes, this is what Groundhog Day is about! :) I'm sure that many other people haven't heard of it, either, except for what they've seen in the movie. Glad to have you stop by to read and comment on my hub!
Any excuse for cake eating...; ) Seriously good, and fun hub!
Happy Ground Hog Day! It's actually sunny here in Portland, Oregon, so I'm going out to celebrate with a walk!
Very informational thanks for sharing, I never knew that it was a German tradition to start with.
Albertsj - Well, if you need an excuse to eat cake, then I'm happy to provide one! Do celebrate Groundhog Day with some cake!
J Burgraff - What could be better than celebrating a sunny Groundhog Day in Portland, Oregon with a nice walk? If you see a groundhog, do wish him a happy day!
Flickr - I didn't know that Groundhog Day, or Candlemas, was a German tradition, either, until I started researching this hub. Glad you found this informational. Thanks for commenting!
Voted "Up" and "Awesome"; great way to start Groundhog Day with some interesting, funny and insightful looks at how to make this day a celebration, with a humorous twist. Great hub!
Gateway Theater on OSU campus in Columbus OH began a 24-hour marathon of Bill Murray's Groundhog Day lat night at 12:01 AM and anyone that makes it through all showings can win a year's worth of theater tickets (2 per week for a year). I think it's a fun holiday.
Congrats on Hub of the day! And what a great hub it is! I enjoyed the list of suggestion surrounding Groundhog day (what a cute little creature). I have watched the Bill Murray movie many times and each warmed my heart and brought much laughter. Great work here Steph. And Jeff, is a very handsome boy. Fun stuff!
HubHugs~
K9
Just stopped back by to say congratulations on getting HOTD with this one. Well-deserved!
Time2rite - Glad you found this to be interesting and funny. It seemed appropriate to keep this on the light side as Groundhog Day in the U.S. is just an excuse for a fun holiday. Thanks for your comments and votes!
Patty Inglish - Wow, even for great fans of the Groundhog Day movie, 24 hours seems like a lot! They would deserve a prize for sitting through 24 hours of showings! Thanks for the bit of fun information!
K9keystrokes - Thanks for the congrats! It was so nice to have this hub recognized as HOTD! Bill Murray's movie, Groundhog Day, is perfect to watch on this fun holiday. Thanks for stopping in to read!
DzyMsLizzy - Thanks for stopping back and for your well wishes! It's always great to see you! :)
Congratulations on hub of the day....fun, fun...and a favorite movie, Groundhog Day, i have watched a skadillion times and still laugh at the antics....and dirt pie....kids love it. and like to help make it..and those of us with the 'kid' in us...we like it too....thanks for sharing....
Who knew so much to do surrounding G-day. Might I suggest that anyone interested take a look at my story on what REALLY happened this morning in Pennsylvania.
Pstrauble48 - It sounds like you already have lots of fun planned to celebrate Groundhog Day! Thanks for the read and for your comments!
Againsttheodds - There does seem to be much to-do about Grounghog Day today! I never did hear the real story...
The most fun I've seen for Groundhog Day. I love the movie, and the dirt hole puddings are cute, the kids would love it. Good suggestions and congratulations on HOTD!
Awesome hub. I love Groundhog Day, so may try some of these next year and actually throw a part.
Rebeccamealey - It would be fun to have a special celebration for kids on Groundhog Day with the movie and dirt pie. Thanks for the comments!
LoriSoard - Sounds like fun, am I invited? :) Thanks for stopping by to read!
Groundhog looks cute! Thanks your hub. Blessed.
Supermarc311 - They are cute! Happy Groundhog Day!
I never knew Groundhog Day could be so fun! Will have to try a few of these ideas next year :) Congrats on your hub of the day - a well deserved award for such a creative hub!
Alissaroberts - Thank you for your very sweet comments! I'm so glad that you gleaned some useful and fun ideas for next year's Groundhog Day celebration!
diogenes Level 7 Commenter 3 months ago
That movie is an absolute classic. I am a bit like Murray's character, I have to watch it time and time again!
Interesing and very American hub. Cute little chaps aren't they
Bob