Which two countries are listed as observers of Groundhog Day?

Which two countries are listed as observers of Groundhog Day? The United States and Canada are listed as observers.

Groundhog Day is observed regionally in both countries on February 2. The tradition is especially associated with Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Punxsutawney Phil’s ceremony became the best-known version. Canada has its own celebrations, including Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia and other local forecasting groundhogs.

The custom developed from European weather lore brought to North America by German-speaking settlers, particularly the Pennsylvania Dutch. In the older European traditions, animals such as badgers or bears could serve as weather prognosticators; in North America, the groundhog became the familiar substitute.

“Observed by” does not mean Groundhog Day is a national public holiday in both countries. It is a cultural tradition rather than a federal holiday, and celebrations vary by region. The familiar prediction says that a shadow means six more weeks of winter, while no shadow suggests an early spring, although scientific studies find no reliable forecasting power in the ritual.