Annually, Groundhog Day falls on Feb. 2. ... Candlemas was a significant day for blessing and distributing candles, celebrated at the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

Annually, Groundhog Day falls on Feb. 2. ... Candlemas was a significant day for blessing and distributing candles, celebrated at the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

Candlemas was traditionally aligned with the anticipation of planting crops, ... The first official Groundhog Day took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Why is Groundhog Day celebrated on Feb. 2? The origins of Groundhog Day date back to German settlers in the 1800s and the celebration of the Christian festival of Candlemas, held on Feb. 2.

Candlemas Day even has its own weather rhyme and…it lines up with why we look to the groundhog’s shadow for guidance. “If Candlemas be fair and bright, come, winter, have another flight.

Groundhog Day is mostly for fun, ... Imbolc was celebrated on Feb. 1, which stretched into Feb. 2 as it became associated with Candlemas and eventually Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day marks the midpoint of winter and is traditionally used to predict how much longer the season will last. ... Candlemas was a significant day for blessing and distributing candles, ...

Groundhog Day shadow meaning: ... It roots back to Candlemas Day in Europe with the Christian "festival of lights" that falls on Feb. 2, midway between the start and end of winter.

Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 139th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Sunday ...

The weather-predicting groundhog celebrity has met two presidents and drinks a life-extending elixir: "Our Phil is like, probably 139 years old," Groundhog Club Inner Circle President Tom Dunkel says.