We LOVE to celebrate Groundhog Day. A tradition that began on the kids fathers’ side of the family, Punxsutawney Phil quickly became a celebrity in our home. I loved when they were younger and would get ecstatic to see the furry groundhog appear on television. Always being creative, the kids would run outside if sunny and look for their own shadows, search the backyard for holes in hopes a groundhog lived out back, and more. Through the years, we’ve expanded the tradition and added fun ways to commemorate the prediction the cutest forecaster around all day long.
- Make Dirt Cake. Whether it’s after school or as an after lunch snack, what better way to feel like a groundhog than to be immersed with dirt! Every recipe I’ve tried is delicious but we love this extra chocolatey one. Oreo Dirt Cake Cups
- Create your own Groundhog Stick Puppet. This simple craft provides you with all of the images and colors. All you need is a printer and scissors. My boys loved reenacting Punxsutawney Phil popping up and down from his burrow or pretending to see his shadow! Groundhog Craft
- Learn and sing the Groundhog Song. I was just as surprised to learn there was one but it’s short and rhymes which makes it easy to remember. Some of the lyrics include: “We’ll light the big green candle, and eat some rhubarb pie, Gimme a kiss, it’s Groundhog Day and groundhogs do not lie”. Just as silly as imagined, but the kids will get a kick out of it and the full version is available on YouTube here: The Groundhog Day Song
Did You Know: Groundhog Day began on February 2, 1887. A group of groundhog hunters named, The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, would journey to the Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania. Trusting on this hairy creature, they would await for him to emerge. If the weather was sunny and he saw his shadow, another six long weeks of Winter would continue. But if Phil did not see his shadow and the day appeared cloudier, Spring would be near!
Tune in to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club starting at 6:30 a.m. to watch the excitement and live coverage of the 2021 Groundhog Day Celebration! We can all join in the excitement of Punxsutawney Phil to see if Florida will have a few more weeks of beautiful, cooler weather.
