Mariä Lichtmess or Candlemas Candlemas or Groundhog Day (English)
Mariä Lichtmess or Candlemas, has been a religious observance for many years in Germany and other European countries. Up until 1912, Mariä Lichtmess was an official holiday in Germany. The Roman Catholic church has celebrated the feast day of Candlemas since 1960.
In Germany, the day has also been known as Mariä Reinigung, das Fest der Darstellung des Herrn and Mariä Kerzenweihe. The latter name (Kerze = candle) is related to the English "Candlemas" name and the tradition of blessing both sacred and household candles on February 2.
Germans who moved to Pennsylvania in the United States during the early 1840's brought with them the tradition of weather predicting using a hibernating animal. In Germany the hedgehog, der Igel, was used but since it was not as available in the New World, the woodchuck or groundhog was chosen to do the honors. The thought was that if it was sunny and bright on Candlemas Day there would be six more weeks of winter, but if it was cloudy, spring was just around the corner.
The town of Punxsutawney, some 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, has made a name for itself as the place to watch for the annual activities on Groundhog Day, particularly after the 1993 movie starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Although his predictions have a low level of accuracy, each year people gather to see if a groundhog dubbed "Punxsutawney Phil" will see his shadow after he emerges from his burrow. If he does, the tradition says there will be six more weeks of winter.
To learn more about Candlemas, see the sites below.
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/candlemas
http://projectbritain.com/year/candlemas.html
To learn more about Groundhog Day, see the sites below.
http://german.about.com/library/blbraeuche_feb.htm
http://www.groundhog.org/history/tradition.html
In Germany, the day has also been known as Mariä Reinigung, das Fest der Darstellung des Herrn and Mariä Kerzenweihe. The latter name (Kerze = candle) is related to the English "Candlemas" name and the tradition of blessing both sacred and household candles on February 2.
Germans who moved to Pennsylvania in the United States during the early 1840's brought with them the tradition of weather predicting using a hibernating animal. In Germany the hedgehog, der Igel, was used but since it was not as available in the New World, the woodchuck or groundhog was chosen to do the honors. The thought was that if it was sunny and bright on Candlemas Day there would be six more weeks of winter, but if it was cloudy, spring was just around the corner.
The town of Punxsutawney, some 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, has made a name for itself as the place to watch for the annual activities on Groundhog Day, particularly after the 1993 movie starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Although his predictions have a low level of accuracy, each year people gather to see if a groundhog dubbed "Punxsutawney Phil" will see his shadow after he emerges from his burrow. If he does, the tradition says there will be six more weeks of winter.
To learn more about Candlemas, see the sites below.
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/candlemas
http://projectbritain.com/year/candlemas.html
To learn more about Groundhog Day, see the sites below.
http://german.about.com/library/blbraeuche_feb.htm
http://www.groundhog.org/history/tradition.html
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