How to Buy Groundhog Day Memorabilia

For more than 150 years, Groundhog Day has been celebrated on February 2. This commemorates the groundhog's emergence from its burrow to see its shadow, signifying whether the end of winter is near. Predictably, there are many sources of memorabilia to celebrate this holiday, all of it centered around the lovable countenance of this avuncular and charming rodent.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2 to celebrate Groundhog Day and buy official memorabilia from the celebration. The celebration starts well before sunrise, and many souvenir stands, booths and retail stores offer gifts such as pennants, cookbooks, certificates and groundhog jewelry.
2. Visit other areas that celebrate Groundhog Day with festivals, celebrations and ceremonies. Many of these celebrations are held in Canada, centered in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Nova Scotia. Other American celebrations are held everywhere from Tampa Bay to Staten Island, with stops in North Carolina, Wisconsin and Georgia. You can buy keepsakes at all these events.
3. Sign up for mail-order catalogs while visiting the festivals. Many stores, booths and artisans offer Groundhog Day memorabilia year round if you are able to get on mailing lists.
4. Visit the official website of Punxsutawney Phil, run by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, to buy memorabilia celebrating Groundhog Day (see Resources below). The website offers such memorabilia as stuffed animals, Beanie Babies, Christmas tree ornaments, clothing, jewelry and Groundhog Day party supplies. You'll find a special section for gifts especially made for people who were born on Groundhog Day.

Tips & Warnings

• Meteorologists have determined that Punxsutawny Phil, the official spokesrodent for all groundhogs, has a 70 to 90 percent accuracy rate in predicting the length of winter. Other groundhogs throughout North America have a much lower success rate, especially in Canada, where some rodents are only able to predict the end of winter 13 percent of the time.