Groundhog Day has been observed for over 13 decades, even though it may seem a little strange to celebrate a groundhog seeing its shadow after it emerges from its burrow. Believe it or not, there are many other holidays that occur towards the beginning of the year that are just as unorthodox as this one.
Groundhog Day first became a holiday on February 2, 1887 in Pennsylvania. Every year since then, Americans in snowy communities eagerly wait to see whether or not the Groundhog sees its shadow. This is said to determine whether there will be an early spring or six more weeks of winter, according to the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com). Some UC High families participate in Groundhog Day traditions. Freshman Natasha Reichard said, “My family celebrates this holiday by watching the movie Groundhog Day. This tradition started out of curiosity towards the movie, then grew into a yearly tradition.”
Aside from Groundhog Day, Pi Day is another unique holiday that math teachers and bakers love to celebrate. Pi Day is celebrated on March 14, because its date represents the first three digits of pi (3.14). One way this holiday is commemorated is by the release of college applications. Schools such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) send out undergraduate acceptance letters on March 14 as their annual celebration of the mathematical constant, per the school’s website (openlearning.mit.edu). Other celebrations of Pi Day include having a pie party, using pi to determine how to map a distant planet, or even estimating the volume of an alien ocean (latimes.com).
Math teacher Thien-An Pham said she enjoys Pi Day because it’s one of the few math related holidays that exist. One year, she added, she even got pied in the face!
To mark the beginning of the new year, adventurists get together to plunge into January’s frigid waters. According to a website about national news, “…plunging into January’s frigid waters is nothing short of the most insane yet invigorating way to celebrate the first day of every new year” (nationaltoday.com). Groups of people meet early in the morning and kick off the new year by doing something wild and crazy. Some people do it for the health benefits, while others do it for the thrill, according to Cable News Network (CNN) (cnn.com).
Although these holidays may seem insignificant, many people in the United States have recognized and celebrated them for decades. These long-standing traditions have become an important part of their lives and hold special meaning. The meaning of the holiday may not always be about the origin of the day, but rather about the memories that were made along the way.