This Day

Groundhog Day's Very Weird Origins (1877)

Feb 1, 2024
Explore the weird origins of Groundhog Day in 1877, from elixirs of everlasting life to secret societies pulling the strings. Discuss the reliability of groundhogs as meteorological forecasters and the peculiar customs surrounding the event. Dive into the quirky traditions, lifespan of Phil the groundhog, and weather predictions based on gestures. Examine the groundhog's inconsistency and wet bias in meteorology. Touch on the disappearance of Zika virus and potential shift in focus to animals with hairless tails.
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Episode notes
1
Introduction
00:00 • 3min
2
Origins of the Groundhog Day tradition and the mystical claim
02:58 • 4min
3
The Quirks of the Groundhog Day Tradition
06:35 • 5min
4
The Groundhog's Inconsistency and Wet Bias in Meteorology
11:47 • 4min
5
The Disappearance of Zika and Pivoting the Show
15:31 • 2min