Groundhog Day Folk Songs

Groundhog Day is February 2nd, which is also Candlemas, the traditional day of mid-winter. If the groundhog comes out of his hole and sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner. A groundhog is a kind of rodent, marmota monax, also known as a woodchuck or a whistlepig.

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

[this trad song is about eating groundhogs]
Pete Seeger\ Ground Hog\ American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 3\ Smithsonian/Folkways
The Dillards\ Ground Hog\ Homecoming And Family Reunion\ Flying Fish
The Whistlepigs String Band\ Groundhog\ Unjugged\ Self

[more groundhog]
Homer & Jethro \ Ground Hog \ Best of
Jimmie Rodgers\ Blue Yodel No 10 (Ground Hog Rootin' In My Back Yard)
Lil' Son Jackson\ Groundhog Blues\ Blues Come to Texas\ Arhoolie
Heidi Muller\ Groundhog\ Giving Back\ Self
Paul Smith and Friends\ The Devil Eat the Groundhog\ Devil Eat the Groundhog\ Rounder
Joel Mabus\ Groundhog\ Flatpick & Clawhammer\ Fossil
Red Allen\ Ground Hog\ The Folkways Years\ Smithsonian/Folkways
Mike Seeger\ Ground Hog\ Solo\ Rounder

Almanac Singers \ Groundhog  \ AS, Their Complete General Recordings\MCA
Buffy Sainte-Marie\Groundhog \ Many a Mile\Vanguard LP
BUFFY STE MARIE \ Ground Hog \ Best of \ Vanguard
JOHN McCUTCHEON - Groundhog Day - Wintersongs - ROUNDER
PETER YARROW - Groundhog - That's Enough For Me - WARNER BROS.
DOC WATSON - Groundhog - The Essential... - VANGUARD
DOC WATSON/Ground Hog/The Doc Watson Family/Smithsonian Folkways
PETE SEEGER/Groundhog/Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes: Little and Big
Animal Folk Songs/Smithsonian Folkways
Adrienne Young ­ “Groundhog” - PLOW TO THE END OF THE ROW (Addiebelle) - 2003

[Candlemas]
John Roberts/Tony Barrand/Fred Breunig & Steve Woodruff - Candlemas Eve - To Welcome In The Spring - Golden Hind Music
Herdman, Hills & Mangsen\ Candlemas Eve\ At the Turning of the Year\ Hand & Heart
Robin Dransfield - Fair Maids of February - Tidewave - Topic Records
Steve Ashley / Candlemas Carol / Test of Time / Market Square