Groundhog Day is a tradition practised in the United States and beyond, on February 2, to predict the duration of winter for the current year, using the loveable groundhog as the forecaster. February 2 is the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox, when a shift in weather conditions is up for grabs. Here at Socksmith, we find this forecast helpful, so we can continue to don our over the knee socks, or start pulling out the ped socks from spring storage.

But did you know, this quirky ritual actually began with a hedgehog as the star of the show? Of course, it wasn’t called Groundhog Day at the time. The playful ceremony of Groundhog Day evolved from such traditions as Imbolc, Lupercalia, the Feast of Nut, and Candlemas. This time of year has traditionally been significant to many cultures, as it can dictate planting methods for vital crops, such as corn. And whether or not small critters, such as the hedgehog retreated back to their home at this time of year, or set out for the beginning of spring was a strong indication of how the weather would proceed.

Imbolc is a holiday that originated from the Celts celebrating the anticipated beginning of Spring. Lupercalia is the Roman version of this in-between season’s celebration. It centered on purification, and involved the sacrificing of a goat. (thankfully, our current day groundhog gets to keep breathing!) Couldn’t they have just danced around in goat socks instead? Ancient Egyptians engaged in the Feast of Nut. An oversimplified description of Nut is the goddess of the sky. And as Christianity spread across Europe, Christians absorbed and redefined this ritual, adding an element of Jesus to the mix, to create Candlemas.

German immigrants settling in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries brought Candlemas with them, and chose the native groundhog to feature in the ritual. This celebration has continued at Gobbler’s Knob to this day, featuring Punxsutawney Phil.

Why critters? Why shadows? And how did these small creatures become meteorologists?! The answer is: love. Yup, the behavior of the furry friends we’ve been observing for hundreds of years is based on finding a mate. What began as weather prediction in relation to crop planting morphed into the search for a mate. But of course this is just another representation of fertility - fertility of the land, fertility of the animals. The male groundhog, toward the end of hibernation, will exit his home in order to search for a mate. With any luck, the marmot will find one to his liking and bring them back to the homestead for some serious snuggling until the definitive end of hibernation.

Which makes sense, because if you find your mate in early February, why wouldn’t you want to cuddle up and burrow away from the world for another month straight? Where better to celebrate your loving union, than the confines of your cozy home? Plus, if a sweetie doesn’t reveal themselves as you’re exiting winter’s solitude, you’d keep searching - leaving the hole, and hitting the trail.

Besides literally covering more ground, another thing that helps to find a mate is looking your best, and that’s where we come in. Besides hedgehog socks, we can supply all manner of furry critters for your feet, from mice socks to bear socks. Whatever your partner status or attitude toward winter, lighthearted socks will make this questionable part of the season more enjoyable. No mate, no problem - at least you can enjoy fun fashion.