Groundhog Day and Catholicism

On Feb. 2, a furry rodent, “Punxsutawney Phil,” receives a “rock star” status among meteorologists as he ceremoniously predicts whether we will have six more weeks of winter or an early spring. 

Traditionally, thousands gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and others look on through technology, as Phil emerges (or is awakened) from his winter sleep a little after 7 a.m. EST, encircled by people in top hats. He is cheered and hoisted in the air before making his prediction. If he sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If not, it’s an early spring.

But what is interesting about Groundhog Day, in which a humble mammal, also known as a “Whistle Pig” or “Ground Squirrel,” becomes a celebrity for a day, is that the secular tradition has its roots in the Catholic faith. Here, he is overshadowed by events following the birth of Christ, whose arrival was announced by the Star of Bethlehem.

Feb. 2 marks the final day of the 40-day Christmastide season and is the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, or Candlemas Day. Forty days after Christ’s birth, Mary and Joseph, following Mosaic law, brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for the rites of purification and dedication.

During the presentation Simeon prophesized about Christ being a light to the Gentile nations and alluded to his crucifixion. In acknowledgment of Simeon’s prophesy, since around the seventh century the faithful would host a special procession and blessing of candles during Mass on this day. 

This led to the name “Candlemas.”

In England, the children were taught about Candlemas through the poem:

“If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come winter, have another flight.
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain, Go winter, and come not again.”

Over the years, secular traditions have spun off from Candlemas. 

In France, La Chandeleur has also come to be known as Crêpe Day, as the customs of the celebration have morphed over time and now include the consumption of crepes. 

And in the United States, German settlers in Pennsylvania blended the Christian Candlemas holiday with other superstitions, which held that a hedgehog (from where they came) could predict weather, which developed into the quirky tradition of Groundhog Day.

So as we commemorate the Presentation of our Lord and his acknowledgement as the “true light of the world” we can tip our (top hats) to Phil through his other title
– woodchuck.  Just ask the tongue twisting question, “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck … ?”

And interestingly, word experts say the word woodchuck is neither related to wood nor chucking. It’s an anglicized term, drawn from many Native American languages, most directly the groundhog’s Aboriginal Algonquian name, wuchak. So the correct answer is none!