In Europe did they use a badger or a hedgehog instead of a groundhog on Groundhog's Day?

Groundhog Day

Europeans do not have an equivalent of Groundhog Day.

In Canada and the US, Ground Hog Day is a silly annual festival, held in late winter, to 'predict" how soon Spring will come to the area,

Groundhog Day in the US (as seen in the Bill Murray film) is 2nd February.

Early in the morning, of the " Day ", a tame Ground Hog, is observed, to see if there is enough daylight for him " to see his shadow ". The result means either 6 more weeks of winter weather, or a earlier than normal spring thaw of the lakes and rivers, which are frozen in winter in Canada.

A number of towns hold such a "Ground Hog Festival" as a tourist boost for the town. Some attract huge crowds, as much as 25,000 people to a town with a normal population of 5,000. The Day is allways held on a week end to get maximum attendance, and TV stations all ways send a camera crew to do a "live remote shoot".

It is all in fun, and nobody takes it seriously at all.

Pre-Christian Celts observed solar cycles halfway between each solstice and equinox; these are called Quarter Days. On Quarter Days, the "veil" between this world and the Otherworld or spirit world is thinnest. This is the best time to see into the future, with the aid of the spirits. On Samhuin (now Halloween) one dresses as a ghoul so that spirits intent on mischief would mistake you for one of their own and pass by. Groundhog day corresponds to Imbolc, therefore it has the prognostication aspect. Hedgehogs are "used" in Britain. Don't pick one up - they're loaded with fleas.

First answer by Chris. Last edit by Englishangel. Contributor trust: 1554 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 184 [recommend question]