Travel & Learn: Vocabulary from Real-Life Adventures (John – Groundhog’s Day)
Groundhog Day and Setsubun: Two Special Traditions
It's February 2nd, and my students keep asking me, "Did you eat your sushi roll?" This is because of Setsubun in Japan. But did you know that February 2nd is also Groundhog Day in America? This special day in the northeastern United States tries to predict when winter weather will end. (But it is only right about 50% of the time!)
The Groundhog Day tradition started in the 1880s, so it has almost 150 years of history. In Japan, farmers often look at animals to guess about the weather. For example, birds flying low in the sky can mean a storm is coming, right? In America, people look at a groundhog (a small animal like a beaver) to learn about winter weather.
Groundhog Day is now a big festival. People meet at 6:00 in the morning, even when it is very cold (-5°C)! There is music for many hours, with people performing on stage. Everyone sings, dances, and tries to stay warm. At sunrise, they wake up the groundhog, whose name is Phil. The most important moment is when Phil comes out of his hole and they see if he can see his shadow or not.
Here is what people believe:
- If Phil sees his shadow → he goes back into his hole → six more weeks of winter
- If Phil does not see his shadow → he stays outside → early spring weather
Sadly, this year he saw his shadow. This means you should keep your warm clothes ready until March!
There are about twenty famous groundhogs in northeastern America and parts of Canada. The most famous groundhog lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This small town has only 6,000 people living there, but the festival brings about 40,000 visitors! The festival became very famous because of a 1993 movie called "Groundhog Day." In this funny movie, the main character lives the same day over and over again. The movie is great, and the festival is fun and unusual.
It's quite different from the Japanese tradition of throwing beans inside your house during Setsubun, isn't it?
Check Your Understanding!
✏️ Vocabulary (単語リスト)
Tradition (伝統) – A custom or belief that people follow over many years.
Predict (予測する) – To say what will happen in the future.
Festival (お祭り・フェスティバル) – A fun event with music, food, and performances.
Shadow (影) – A dark shape made when light is blocked by something.
Unusual (珍しい・変わっている) – Not common or normal.
Performing (パフォーマンスをする・演じる) – To sing, dance, or act in front of others.
Character (登場人物・キャラクター) – A person in a book, movie, or story.
Visitor (訪問者・来客) – A person who goes to a place for a short time.
✅ Practice Exercises (練習問題)
A. Fill in the Blanks (空欄に適切な単語を入れましょう)
Use the vocabulary words to complete each sentence.
On February 2nd, people try to ________ when winter will end.
I saw my ________ on the ground when the sun came out.
Many people came to the town as ________ for the Groundhog Day festival.
She is a famous ________ from the movie.
There was music and dancing at the ________ in the cold morning.
That animal looks very ________—I’ve never seen one like it before!
B. True or False (正しいか間違いかを書きましょう)
Write T (True) or F (False).
Groundhog Day is only celebrated in Japan.
Phil is the name of a famous groundhog.
The groundhog looks like a bird.
If Phil sees his shadow, spring will come early.
Many people visit the Groundhog Day festival in Punxsutawney.
The Groundhog Day movie is serious and dramatic.
📝 Answer Sheet (解答シート)
A. Fill in the Blanks
Predict
Shadow
Visitors
Character
Festival
Unusual
B. True or False
F
T
F
F
T
F
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