Our Family Traditions: Groundhog Day

Some traditions arrive quietly, passed down through generations. Others begin because someone in the family decides that life is better with one more reason to gather. 

Groundhog Day is firmly in the second category for us. 

In our family, it doesn’t take a major holiday to bring people together. Sometimes all you need is a date on the calendar, a shared idea, and a dessert that makes the kids’ eyes light up. Groundhog Day has become one of those moments for our family. Lighthearted, a little silly, and exactly the kind of pause we need in the middle of winter. 

A Little History Behind Groundhog Day 

Groundhog Day is celebrated each year on February 2, with roots that stretch back much further than a weather forecast. 

The tradition has ties to Candlemas Day, a European celebration marking the midpoint between winter and spring. Over time, folklore held that if an animal emerged from its burrow and saw its shadow, winter would linger a little longer. When German immigrants brought these traditions to Pennsylvania, the groundhog became the animal of choice. 

Today, Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous of them all. Each year, crowds gather in Pennsylvania to see whether he predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Whether or not he’s accurate is beside the point. The joy is in the watching. 

How Groundhog Day Became a Family Tradition 

If you know Mrs. Knapp, you know this to be true: she loves any and every reason to gather the family and celebrate. 

Several years ago, she looked at the calendar, noticed Groundhog Day approaching, and decided it deserved a place among our family traditions—because why not? All in honor of Punxsutawney Phil, of course! 

What started as a simple idea quickly became something we all laughingly looked forward to. A reason to come together in the cold of winter, when the days are still short and everyone could use a little levity. 

Mrs. Knapp gathers the family for a meal, which is typically something a bit messy but fun (like sloppy joes)! The kids buzz with excitement about whether the groundhog will see his shadow, and laughter fills the house in a way that feels especially welcome this time of year. 

The Dessert That Makes the Day 

No Groundhog Day gathering would be complete without dessert. And in our family, there’s only one option that feels right. 

Every year, we end the meal with a big bowl of “Dirt n’ Worms”. It’s classic, messy, and endlessly entertaining. Chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and gummy worms layered together into a dessert that feels perfectly suited to a day celebrating creatures who live underground. 

The kids love it. The adults secretly do too. 

Groundhog Day Pudding (Dirt n’ Worms) 

Ready to enjoy Groundhog Day as much as our family does? Here is our go-to recipe for the pudding, simple enough for little helpers and guaranteed to disappear quickly. 

Ingredients 

Instructions 

A Tradition That Makes Us Smile 

Groundhog Day may never rival Christmas or Thanksgiving in scale, but that’s part of its charm. 

It’s a reminder that family traditions don’t have to be serious to matter. Sometimes they’re joyful because they’re playful. Sometimes they last because they’re easy. And sometimes they begin simply because someone decided that February needed a little more celebration. 

Thanks to Mrs. Knapp and her love of gathering, Groundhog Day has become one of those moments for us. One more reason to sit around the table, laugh together, and enjoy something sweet. 

Looking for Your Own Little Tradition? 

If you’ve never celebrated Groundhog Day, consider this an invitation. Pick a meal, include a fun dessert, watch the prediction, and gather whoever happens to be nearby. 

You never know which small moment might become a tradition of its own. 

And if it includes chocolate pudding and gummy worms, all the better.