DLTK's Crafts for Kids Happy Groundhog's Day!   I've tried to come up with a quick, but cute list of things to do for this special day. First off, we have a Groundhog toilet paper roll craft  (pictured).  This craft is suitable for ages 3+ Lisa did not have enough toilet paper rolls for her entire class last year, but she used the toilet paper roll head, arms and legs plus an oval of paper and let the children attach the limbs to the oval body with glue (to do this Lisa just cut the rectangle from the tp roll craft into an oval so she didn't waste paper).  I thought this was a great idea and would be suitable for even younger children to make! Laura also added her own variation to our Groundhog's Day craft: "Just a quick suggestion for the Groundhog craft, last year we glued the groundhog head to a popsicle stick and covered the toilet paper role with green paper, then we made the groundhog 'pop' out of his hole".  What a cute idea Laura!  Thanks for sharing your idea for a pop up groundhog craft.     Check out these 10 Groundhog coloring book pages   Pam sent us a picture of the awesome bulletin board project she did with her class for Groundhog's Day.

Nan sent in this tune -- too cute!    HERE'S A LITTLE GROUNDHOG    sung to "I'm A Little Teapot"       I see a little groundhog, furry and brown,       He's popping up to look around.      If he sees his shadow, down he'll go.      Six more weeks of winter - oh, no!

The History of Groundhog's Day:

When German settlers arrived in the United States in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day.  Candlemas Day came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Superstition told that if the weather was nice on that day, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold.  

For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home.  

The weather continued to be important to the early Christians.  If the sun came out on February 2, the day halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

In Europe, it was a hedgehog that was watched with hope that he'd not see his shadow.  When settlers arrived in America, there were no hedgehogs to be found.  So they adopted the groundhog as the new world's weather forecaster.  

The groundhog was chosen because it wintered underground like the hedgehog and because the Native Americans in the region respected the animal greatly.  They considered the groundhog to be a wise and sensible animal.

Although Groundhog's Day is an American holiday, it has European roots.  Here are some sayings you might like to read:

From England:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

From Scotland:

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.

From Germany:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May.

And from the United States:

If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay.