When was the first Groundhog Day?

Search: groundhog day

Why: It's today, yo.

Answer: 1841! In a journal entry, a Pennsylvania storekeeper wrote:

Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

Or 1887! According to the Huffington Post's "Groundhog Day: A History, and 5 Facts You Didn't Know":

It is said to have originated from ancient European weather lore in which a badger or sacred bear predicts the weather, rather than a groundhog. It also has religious origins, as it shares similarities with Candlemas Day, which is also on Feb. 2. According to an old English song, "If Candlemas be fair and bright,/ Come, Winter, have another flight."

Other facts:

• Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, has not seen it 15 times, and nine years are unaccounted for.
• The National Climatic Data Center reportedly stated that Phil's prediction's have been correct 39 percent of the time. This number is in conflict with Phil's club, which states he's been right 100 percent of the time.
• In the years following the release of Groundhog Day, a 1993 film starring Bill Murray, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in Punxsutawney where the ceremony takes place.

We drove past a Punxatawney highway sign one time, but as it was the near end of a 6 day cross country roadtrip, we didn't get off to look closer.

Source: Huffington Post, Wikipedia

The More You Know: A groundhog is also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or land beaver. It lives pretty much everywhere in the US, from Alabama to Alaska. It is related to the squirrel.