News What Time Does the Groundhog Come Out on Groundhog Day? Where — and when — to watch a live stream of Groundhog Day events on Saturday, February 2. By Jess McHugh Jess McHugh Jess McHugh is a journalist, author, and researcher who has reported from North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and West Africa. She's written hundreds of stories, ranging from the fight to preserve world heritage in Palmyra, Syria, to the story of the first American dictionary. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, The Paris Review, Time, New York Magazine, The New Republic, Fortune, Village Voice, International Business Times, CNN, Avidly (Los Angeles Review of Books), AFP Services, The Believer, Lapham's Quarterly, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, InStyle, Dame, Thrillist, Man Repeller, and Travel + Leisure, among others. She can be found between New York City and Paris. * 8+ years of experience working as a writer and researcher * Author of "Americanon" (Dutton, Penguin-Random House, 2021) * Bilingual in French and English * Former staff reporter at Time Inc. and International Business Times. * Received a bachelor's degree in comparative literature from Yale University Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on February 1, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day. Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images In many ways, animals are better than humans: they're more compassionate, they're better at flying, and they are absolutely more accurate when predicting the future. At least that's the case with the country's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. That's why every year since 1887, we humans must turn to this revered rodent to determine when the interminable winter will end. Do not fear as you sit, shivering in the dark of February — all will soon be revealed. Groundhog Day 2019 Prediction: Will Phil See His Shadow? A Brief History of Groundhog Day The ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas helped inspire what is now celebrated as Groundhog Day. During Candlemas, clergy would bless and pass out candles for the winter season. German participants were the first to add an animal to the festivities, incorporating a hedgehog as a predictor of future weather, according to the History Channel. When a large German population immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, they brought with them some of these traditions. The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated in the U.S. in 1887 (the German-Americans switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs as the latter were more common in Pennsylvania). It turns out that in the 1880s, the groundhog served two purposes: meteorologist and meal. The PunxsutawneyGroundhog Club that hosted Groundhog Day would also organize a groundhog hunt in the summer months, NPR reported. When is Groundhog Day 2019? Groundhog Day takes place Saturday, February 2, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Men wearing top hats pull Phil the groundhog out of his home, and if the groundhog sees his shadow, that means six more weeks of winter. What Time Does the Groundhog Come Out? The groundhog is set to come out at approximately 7:20 a.m., CBS News reported. Fans can start watching his habitat much earlier, as the livestream starts in the pre-dawn hours. Where to Livestream Groundhog Day 2019 Fans of Punxsutawney Phil can await his arrival starting at 6 a.m., thanks to a livestream provided by Visit Pennsylvania. The livestream has been a tradition for the past several years, allowing more people than ever to watch the animal meteorologist. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit