5 minute read
The Return of Catholic Culture: Groundhogs and Candles
Written by Roy Wulf ’26
On February 2, four years ago, my family and I were in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the Groundhog Day celebration. This magical event starts in the wee hours of the morning with thousands gathering in the woods to await the appearance of the famous rodent Punxsutawney Phil. A legend says that if Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather, but if he does not see it, there will be an early spring. This quirky holiday was featured in the 1993 comedy movie “Groundhog Day,” in which Bill Murray portrays a cynical weather forecaster who says to his TV audience, “This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.”
It may come as a surprise to many that this off-beat holiday is actually the secular version of a Christian, especially Catholic, holy day known as Candlemas. This Church celebration, held forty days after Christmas, commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. Candlemas has also been called the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Presentation of the Lord. On the eve of Candlemas, the Faithful traditionally took down their Christmas decorations. On Candlemas, there would be candlelight processions and the blessing of the candle to symbolize how Jesus is the light of the world. The biblical events celebrated at Candlemas are found in the Gospel of Luke 2:22-40. The Presentation in the Temple is also the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary.
However, Luke makes no mention of a groundhog at the Temple, so how did Punxsutawney Phil come into the picture? In much the same way that flying reindeer and Santa Claus gradually entered into the cultural traditions surrounding the holy day of Christmas, a groundhog came to be associated with Candlemas. For most of human history, the work that most people did focused on farming. This agrarian lifestyle only started to disappear with the coming of the Industrial Revolution and other technological revolutions that followed. However, when most people w planting and harvesting crops, holy days i were often used to mark times of the year w change and, therefore, have an impact on for example, this English saying about Can be fair and bright, come, Winter, hav Candlemas bring clouds and rain, go, Winter, come not again."
People also looked to other signs of the cha the behavior of animals that hibernate. In G when badgers came out of hibernation, oft When German settlers immigrated to Penn this tradition with them. However, beca groundhogs around in Pennsylvania than forecasting importance was passed o Punxsutawney Phil is just the most f Candlemas, rather like Rudolph is the most famous of Santa’s reindeer at Christmas.
In fact, there are many holy days which have accumulated popular cultural traditions that, though lots of fun, have obscure connections to the holy days themselves. For example, Valentine's Day is the feast of a third-century bishop and martyr named Valentine. Just before he was led off to his execution, he penned a letter expressing Christian love and signed it “Your Valentine.” Over time, a feast day celebrating Christian love came to be associated with romantic love, and we typically think of a small greeting card when we think of a “Valentine,” not a Christian martyr.
Similarly, on St. Patrick’s Day, more thought is devoted to leprechauns, pots of gold, and green beer than to the heroic life of the saint who converted Ireland to Christianity. Mardi Gras is an opportunity to have a wild party even by those who will not be observing Lenten fasting (and who may not even know about Lent). Easter, as we know, is associated, on the one hand, with the Cross, but on the other, with another rodent, this time bringing colorful eggs. Halloween, or All-Hallows Eve, is the eve of All Saints Day, remembering all the saints in Heaven and then, on All Souls Day, the holy souls in Purgatory. Having kids dressed up as superheroes and getting candy from the neighbors is a fairly recent cultural tradition.
Let me clearly say that I am not at all opposed to the weird and wonderful traditions that have established themselves around many Catholic holy days. Such traditions at least make everyone aware that something different is happening at particular times of the year. However, just as Christians at Christmastime often say that “Jesus is the reason for the season, ” the Faithful have a duty to try to uphold the holy days that are often buried underneath strange cultural practices. I love Santa Claus, but I also want to remember the historical St. Nicholas. I also do not want Frosty the Snowman to obscure the Nativity of Our Lord. Although I had a wonderful time with Punxsutawney Phil and hope to attend that celebration again some day, this year I have decided to make a point to attend Mass on Candlemas and sing with the choir. In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to wish you all Happy Candlemas, with a groundhog for fun and a candle for your blessing!
