The Pagan Roots of Groundhog Day

Each year on February second Punxsutawney Phil stirs in his burrow and presents himself to a crowd who is anxiously awaiting his meteorological expertise. News outlets across the United States anxiously await the opportunity to share the forecast with the country regarding Phil's prediction, whether it means an early spring or not. While the country as a whole looks forward to the groundhog's yearly appearance, few of them realize that they are taking part in an ancient pagan tradition.

February second is most widely known for being Groundhog's day, but devout Catholics might also recognize it as the day set aside to honor Saint Brigitte, a parallel of the Celtic Pagan Bride's Day. Pagans on the other hand, recognize the day as a minor holiday with a number of different names and traditions, the most widely accepted being Imbolc. Imbolc (pronounced ee-melc) translates literally into 'the milk'. The day was set aside for celebration as the time when the first signs of spring make themselves evident to the observer. Often the first hint that spring is over the horizon is pregnancy and the growth of milk in livestock.