Also, at the climax, phil pinches rita to prove that tomorrow has finally arrived, and in the novel that inspired edge of tomorrow 2014, the. The world can thank the germans for the groundhog day tradition. In 1993, columbia pictures released the film groundhog day starring bill murray and andie macdowell. Getty images after the release of the 1993 film starring bill murray, attendance to the big event in punxsutawney exploded, drawing. Tradition dictates that if a groundhog sees its shadow that day, there will. Hedgehog was originally chosen as the animal forecaster by germans. In the grand scheme of holidays, groundhog day gets kind of a bad rap. In the years following the release of the movie, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited gobblers knob. In 2017, one of americas most peculiar traditions celebrates its 1st anniversary. In the 1993 movie, groundhog day, bill murray plays tv weatherman phil connors, who is assigned to cover groundhog day in punxsutawney. However, you can also live stream the days celebration by going to.
Groundhog day trivia and facts impress your friends with your knowledge about groundhogs day. After all, whether late or early, winter is bound to end sometime paving way for the. The settlers found that groundhogs were plentiful and were the most intelligent and sensible animal to carry on the legend of candlemas day. Feb 01, 2020 youre about to discover 15 behind the scenes facts about groundhog day starring bill murray, such as. It is the one day a year where we throw logic to the wind and listen to the forecast of a rodent that lives underground. Released 25 years ago this week on february 12, 1993, the comedy that sees bill murray trapped in a mysterious. Exactly one year later, townspeople made the first trip to gobblers knob, the hill where the famous groundhog. There are lots of fun facts associated with punxsutawney phil. The accuracy of the groundhog predictions is a matter of. Just like murrays phil connors trapped in the same day, its a movie worth revisiting again and again. According to the website wolfgnards, connors spends eight years, eight months and sixteen days trapped in groundhog.
Jan 30, 2020 here are some other fun facts you can share with friends about groundhog day celebrations. The studio offered the role to tom hanks and michael keaton, who both turned it down, and. The tradition of predicting weather on february 2, dates back to the dark ages. Jan 28, 2020 the 1993 movie groundhog day starring bill murray took place in punxsutawney, pennsylvania and made the holiday even more popular. Explore groundhog days shadowy history as well as interesting facts about the custom. My family loves dowdle folk art puzzles, and they have a really cute groundhog day puzzle. The movie, however, does not specify what day of the week it is supposed to be, and groundhog day in 1993 was actually on a tuesday. Page 2 this category is for questions and answers related to groundhog day. Freas, who was the editor of the towns local paper, promoted punxsutawneys friendly groundhog as the. Top 10 facts about groundhog day, and theres no bill.
Punxsutawney phil, the official groundhog of americas largest groundhog day celebration and costar in the hit movie groundhog day, has been alive since, uh, 1887. As it dawns on him the first time he wakes up in the same day, phil is torn between whether this is a bad case of deja vu, if hes going mad, or if something bizarre truly is at work. During the filming of groundhog day, bill murray was bitten by the groundhog twice during shooting. To further enhance the groundhog day experience, burrow into these interesting facts about the holiday and the animal itself. To get in the spirit of groundhog day whether you want six more weeks of winter or not here are 10 fun facts about the holiday. Bill murray wasnt actually the first pick to play phil connors. Jan 31, 2020 in the grand scheme of holidays, groundhog day gets kind of a bad rap. A bunch of other actors almost played phil connors. If the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Jul, 20 1993 columbia pictures releases the movie, groundhog day, starring bill murray.
Getty images after the release of the 1993 film starring bill murray, attendance to. Bill murrays comedy is now a genre classic and consistently named one of the best movies of the 1990s. Forecast, facts, and folklore groundhog day is celebrated every year on february 2, and in 2020, it falls on sunday. This year groundhog day is on sunday, february 2nd. However, this holiday has such a rich and fun history and continues to be of cultural importance that we couldnt resist sharing 10 entertaining and littleknown facts about groundhog day. Top 10 damn interesting facts about groundhog day living hours. In the midst of a turbulent winter season, many are interested in whether the furry predictions of punxsutawney phil will point to an early spring or promise more of the same legend has it that if punxsutawney phil emerges from his winter burrow and sees his shadow, expect an additional six weeks of winter. Surprising groundhog facts for groundhog day readers digest. The first official groundhog day was celebrated on february 2, 1886, in punxsutawney, pennsylvania, with a proclamation in the punxsutawney spirit by the newspapers editor, clymer freas. Connors but director harold ramis thought they were all far too nice.
Yep, its groundhog day, which means its the perfect time to. For starters, punxsutawney phils real name is ridiculously long. Jan 31, 2019 groundhog day is a popular tradition celebrated on feb. The clock actually continued playing the song like in the movie. February 2 brings the mostwatched weather forecast of the year and the only one led by a rodent. Today, groundhog day is celebrated with a groundhog prediction, festivities. Tom hanks for the lead role, but decided against it, saying that hanks was too nice. Facts the groundhog wakes up from hibernation on february 2. Check out these amazing facts, from a row between murray and. Without the groundhog, february 2 would be just another day on the calendar, but the great punxsutawney phil is also our harbinger. While the film depicts the reallife events and takes place in punxsutawney, producers decided to film the movie in a location more accessible to a major metropolitan center. Fun facts about bill murray and groundhog day by michele wojo wojciechowski if the movie groundhog day were a person, this year it could get a reduction on its car insurance. Jan 30, 2019 explore groundhog day s shadowy history as well as interesting facts about the custom.
Top 10 facts about groundhog day, and theres no bill murray in sight. Here are some other fun facts you can share with friends about groundhog day celebrations. Check out these other groundhog day themed activities. As if you werent aware by now from repeated viewings, groundhog days story of a bitter tv. Fun facts about bill murray and groundhog day big purple. Its not one that gets you a day off work, or presents or anything that great. In the years following the 1993 release of the movie, groundhog day starring bill murray, crowds numbering as high as 40,000 have flocked to gobblers knob in punxsutawney. If the movie groundhog day were a person, this year it could get a reduction on its car insurance.
Bill murray already loved the groundhog day festival before the film was released. It is fun to guess if an early spring is coming, and even more so to rely on a large ground squirrel to play meteorologist. The tradition is rooted in pennsylvania dutch folklore and superstition. Other fun facts about punxsutawney phil, the groundhog. Legend has it that on february 2, if a groundhog can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Another fun book for groundhog day is groundhog weather school. The 1993 movie groundhog day starring bill murray took place in punxsutawney, pennsylvania and made the holiday even more popular. A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. Here are some behindthescenes facts about groundhog day. Today, groundhog day is celebrated with a groundhog prediction, festivities, food and speeches. Youre about to discover 15 behind the scenes facts about groundhog day starring bill murray, such as. You do not need any special arrangements, decorations, gifts, or any other things to celebrate this day. After the movies release, the agent called tobolowsky to thank him for portraying.
Groundhog day originated from german custom which in turn had borrowed it from european tradition. Its origins date back to ancient european weather lore, when a sacred bear or badger was the weather predictor instead of the groundhog. Brian doylemurray who is one of the five brothers of bill murray also appeared in a cameo in groundhog day movie. Punxsutawney phil is the official groundhog forecaster on february 2, but many states have their own like new yorks pothole pete. Fun facts about bill murray and groundhog day big purple marble. Jan 29, 2015 to get in the spirit of groundhog day whether you want six more weeks of winter or not here are 10 fun facts about the holiday.
Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow. Jan 29, 2019 6 groundhog day the movie put punxsutawney phil on the map. Its fitting that youve probably seen groundhog day over and over and over again. Ironically, the movie was shot in woodstock, illinois.
The impact of the movie became clear when 30000 people began attending the real groundhog day ceremony that takes place at gobblers knob in punxsutawney. The movie was praised for its inventive and original premise as well as murrays pitchperfect performance. Though its hard to imagine groundhog day without bill murray, he wasnt the only. Falling midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, february 2 is. The groundhog day event is now so popular that hotels book up months in advance and thousands of people gather on gobblers knob to see phils prediction. Check out these other groundhog daythemed activities. In the years following the release of the movie, crowds numbering as high as. Whether or not you believe in the folklore, groundhog day is a cherished tradition with a long history and international renown, primarily due to the 1993 hit movie, groundhog day. Pennsylvanias punxsutawney phil is not the only weatherpredicting animal. Kids also love temporary tattoos, which would be a fun addition to this silly holiday. Bill murray plays a tv weatherman forced to live the same day feb. Groundhog day is a popular tradition celebrated on feb. While the exact calculations are disputed, ifcs simon gallagher estimates bill murrays character in the classic film groundhog day relived the day 12,403 days thats 33 years and 358 days.
Mar 03, 2020 phil only became a national celebrity after the 1993 release of the movie groundhog day. Tobolowsky based his character on his own insurance agent. Before the movie was released, gobblers knob averaged visitors in the hundreds for groundhog day. Just enjoy as you see people go crazy whether that little animal sees its shadow or not. Movies dg this category is for questions and answers related to groundhog day. Groundhog day began as a pennsylvanian german celebration in the1800s in pennsylvania.
Twenty interesting things aboutgroundhog day the pioneer woman. My favorite is when phil decided, during the prohibition years, that there would be 60 more weeks of winter if he were not allowed a drink. If the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Jan 31, 2020 while the exact calculations are disputed, ifcs simon gallagher estimates bill murrays character in the classic film groundhog day relived the day 12,403 days thats 33 years and 358 days. The tradition of groundhog day began over years ago in a small german community in pennsylvania according to the sun, a man named clymer h. Fun facts about groundhog day this day is the official holiday of the university of texas at irving where they have a big celebration each year. So, you see groundhog day is pretty interesting and fun holiday. Falling midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, february 2 is a significant day in several. On this day, 25 years ago, the classic movie, groundhog day was released. Georgia has general beauregard lee, and canada has wiarton willie. One brother of bill murray also appears in the groundhog day movie.
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