Happy Groundhog's Day!

If you are unfamiliar with the tradition of Groundhog Day, it goes something like this; If the groundhog (named Punxsutawney Phil) sees his shadow, we are stuck with six more weeks of winter. If Phil doesn’t see his shadow, we luck out and get an early spring! 

Groundhog’s day is held of February 2 each year and the largest celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since 1886. But how did this tradition come about? Well, there are many theories making the origins a bit unclear. It is said to have originated from an ancient European weather lore in which a badger or sacred bear would predict the weather. The holiday also shares similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas, the Pagan festival of Imbolc which is the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar celebrated on February 1 and involves weather predicting, and to St. Swithun’s Day in July. 

An interesting side note about Groundhog’s Day since I live in Alaska. Alaska does not celebrate it. Yep, that’s right, instead February 2nd is called Marmot Day. In 2009, then Governor Sarah Palin signed a bill to officially change Groundhog’s Day in Alaska to Marmot Day, it was said to be done because there are not a lot of groundhogs in Alaska. Now before you get too excited about ditching the “groundhog”, technically speaking a groundhog is a marmot, so really it is just one giant squirrel versus another type of giant squirrel. Nevertheless, it kind of takes the excitement out of watching Punxsutawney Phil wander out of his burrow, for some of us Alaskans!

So, this Groundhog’s Day did Phil see his shadow?  No, he has predicted an early spring this year!  Interestingly, Phil as seen his shadow 98 times and not seen it just 16 times since 1887!  Making this year rare!

Did you know, groundhogs are mostly herbivorous, primarily eating wild grasses and other vegetation, and berries and agricultural crops when available. Lets celebrate Groundhogs Day (or Marmot Day for us in Alaska) by following the groundhog and making it a “meatless” day by cooking up our most delicious vegan dishes!

Try my delicious apple stuffing or my homemade potato soup or make a veggie pizza with my yummy pizza crust! Enjoy! And Happy Marmot Day! ;)

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