GROUNDHOG DAY AS FOLKLORE

Folklore fosters a link between the past and present of a group, allowing for connection and communication via traditions, customs, and beliefs (Sims and Stephens 2011, 10). The practice of animal weather oracles was passed down verbally in German culture before making its way to the United States in the form of Groundhog Day. Verbal folklore also manifests in the annual appearance and presentation of Punxsutawney Phil, who is announced as “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary” before announcing whether it is to be an early spring or six more weeks of winter (Potter 2008, 17).

 

Material folklore includes the tangible elements of a form and is a vital part of the Groundhog Day celebration (Sims and Stephens 2011, 13). The participants in the Groundhog Day celebration, especially those involved in the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, wear distinctive clothing that indicates their significance. These outfits include top hats, tails, and other accessories that have become symbolic of the event and reflect its Pennsylvania Dutch heritage (Capper 2016, 270). The materiality of these costumes adds a visual and tangible dimension to the folklore of the holiday. Tourists and locals who attend the Groundhog Day event also contribute to its material folklore by donning merchandise that represents Punxsutawney Phil. 

 

Groundhog Day can also be defined by its customary lore. This genre of folklore “refers to patterned, repeated behavior in which a person’s participation indicates involved membership” (Sims and Stephens 2011, 16). In the context of Groundhog Day, its annual recurrence on February 2nd in Gobbler’s Knob and the dramatic emergence of Punxsutawney Phil from his burrow create a ritual that encompasses the meaning of customary lore. The tradition of using Phil's shadow (or lack thereof) to predict the weather for the coming weeks is a historic and culturally significant customary folk belief. The symbolic connection between the groundhog's behavior and the changing seasons has become deeply ingrained in the folklore of Groundhog Day.