Groundhog Day is this Thursday, February 2nd, 2023! Groundhog day is a North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada every year on February 2nd. The goal of Groundhog Day is to try to determine if Spring will arrive early or if we will have six more weeks of winter. The tradition comes from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition where if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2nd and the weather is clear and the sun is out, allowing the groundhog sees its shadow, winter will go on for six more months. If it is cloudy and the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. Although there isn’t actually a correlation between the weather and when spring will arrive and a groundhog seeing its shadow, it is a fun cultural tradition.
Groundhog Day
Many regions in North America look to different famous groundhogs for their weather prediction forecast on Groundhog day, and the famous groundhog in the DMV area is Potomac Phil. Potomac Phil is also known as the National Groundhog. He is said to have a stoic and sophisticated personality and is often seen holding a corn on the cob. On February 2nd at 8:30 AM, DC’s Potomac Phil will give us the long awaited weather prediction.
One can attend the Groundhog Day at Dupont Circle Park to witness and celebrate the National Groundhog’s prediction. Dupont Festival’s website states:
Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2023 at 8:30AM sharp – GROUNDHOG DAY: Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. Phil will let us know whether to expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Music, polka dancers, puppet show, lots of coffee, VIP celebrities and more. Dupont Circle, at the fountain. Potomac Phil will emerge at approximately 8:30AM or whenever he damn well pleases.