Happy Groundhog Day !!!

Groundhog Day is an annual holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada on which if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges celebrate the holiday with social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more plays or skits are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as high as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886. Groundhog Day received worldwide attention as a result of the 1993 film of the same name, Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and featured Punxsutawney Phil. Groundhog Day proponents state that the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90%

FAMOUS GROUNDHOGS:

Punxsutawney Phil found in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA
Woodstock Willie of Woodstock, Illinois, USA
Jimmy the Groundhog of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, USA
Wiarton Willie found in Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
Staten Island Chuck found in New York City, New York, USA
General Beauregard Lee, PhD found in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Dunkirk Dave in Dunkirk, New York, USA
Malverne Mel and Malverne Melissa found in Malverne, New York, USA
Brandon Bob of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Balzac Billy of Balzac, Alberta, Canada
Shubenacadie Sam of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada
Gary the Groundhog of Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
Spanish Joe of Spanish, Ontario, Canada
Sir Walter Wally of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Pardon Me Pete of Tampa, Florida, USA
Octoraro Orphie of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA
Holtsville Hal of Holtsville, New York, USA
Buckeye Chuck of Marion, Ohio, USA

*** One of the best movie ever***

The 1993 comedy movie Groundhog Day takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on this day (although the majority of the movie was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois). The main character (played by Bill Murray) is forced to relive the day over and over again until he can learn to give up his selfishness and become a better person. In popular culture, the phrase "Groundhog Day" has come to represent going through a phenomenon over and over until one spiritually transcends it.