Q 01/05

On which date is Groundhog Day observed each year?

A) February 2

B) February 14

C) March 1

D) January 31

Answer · why

A) February 2

Groundhog Day is February 2, the old midpoint of winter between the solstice and the spring equinox, which is why so many cultures watched the weather...

Q 02/05

According to the legend, how many more weeks of winter follow if the groundhog sees its shadow?

A) Four

B) Six

C) Eight

D) Two

Answer · why

B) Six

A shadow means six more weeks of winter; the German version of the lore promised only four extra weeks, and the Pennsylvanians stretched it.

Q 03/05

Which immigrant community brought the shadow-watching superstition to America?

A) The Cornish miners

B) The Scots-Irish

C) The Pennsylvania Dutch

D) The French Huguenots

Answer · why

C) The Pennsylvania Dutch

The Pennsylvania Dutch call the day Grundsaudaag, and some Grundsow Lodges still hold the whole ceremony in Pennsylvania German.

Q 04/05

In the German lore that crossed the Atlantic, which animal originally did the shadow-watching?

A) The fox

B) The snake

C) The hare

D) The badger

Answer · why

D) The badger

Germans watched the badger (Dachs) on Dachstag; Pennsylvania settlers swapped it for the groundhog, which was common around their new homes.

Q 05/05

Groundhog Day falls on the same date as which Christian feast, whose weather lore it inherited?

A) Candlemas

B) Michaelmas

C) Lammas

D) Epiphany

Answer · why

A) Candlemas

An old Scots couplet sums up the older belief: 'If Candlemas is fair and clear / There'll be twa winters in the year.'