Spring Break
Coming out of the burrow
The origins of Groundhog Day stem from festival celebrating change of seasons.
By: Ben Johnson
Issue date: 2/2/09 Section: Features
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In Aggieland, we pride ourselves on our multifaceted traditions and dedication to keeping those traditions alive. While many of the traditions and observances we keep alive make perfect sense to us, all those born outside the privilege of being an Aggie often find the rituals odd.
To the residents of Punxutawney, Penn., one particular tradition has made the otherwise small community a hub of activity. This rather unremarkable town is the home of Punxutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who has the prestigious job of being the groundhog of Groundhog Day.
The origins of the holiday reach deep into the roots of history and the early pagan observance of Imbolc, according to Anthony Aveni's "The Book of the Year: a Brief history of Our Seasonal Holidays." Observed by the ancient Celts and Scots, the festival of Imbolc was one of four principal holidays revolving around the changing of the seasons. Most commonly celebrated on the day halfway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, Imbolc was traditionally observed on Feb. 2.
Brigid, the Celtic goddess for whom the festival was observed, was the goddess of poetry and healing. As such, the festivals included the lighting of fires for purification and preparation of holy wells for healing. Candles and fires associated with this celebration were meant to represent the return of warm weather and the coming of spring. With the advent of Christianity in the British Isles, the festival was instead reformed into St. Brigid's Day.
Being so near the Catholic observation of the Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the holiday was in many ways assimilated into the fourth Joyful Mystery: The presentation of Jesus at the temple. Also known as "Candlemas," the Fruit of the Mystery of this particular observation was purity or purification.
By the mid-19th century, the holiday had evolved into an observance of purification in the Catholic Church and a ritual to observe the coming of spring in pagan cultures.
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