I can still remember learning about the legendary Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day in school. I was always so amazed that a Groundhog (aka Punxsutawney Phil) could predicate if were going to have 6 more weeks of winter if he saw his shadow. Now my preschool twins are learning about Groundhog Day at their school and came home with some Groundhog crafts.
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Some fun facts about Groundhogs and Punxsutawney Phil:
- The average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds. Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 pounds and is 22 inches long.
- Groundhogs are one of the few animals that really hibernate. Hibernation is not just a deep sleep. It is actually a deep coma, where the body temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing, the heart barely beats, the blood scarcely flows, and breathing nearly stops.
- A groundhog’s life span is normally 6 to 8 years. Phil receives a drink of a magical punch every summer during the annual Groundhog Picnic, which gives him 7 more years of life.
My family, especially my teen son and I, love the classic movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. This year was the 15th Anniversary of the film’s release and we watched the movie again on Groundhog Day in its honor.
Since we were home celebrating Groundhog Day, we had a mini celebration using Hormel Foods products. We used the Hormel Party Tray Meat and Cheese – Hormel® ham and turkey, Sargento® cheddar & Colby/jack cheese and Keebler® crackers for our somewhat picky preschool toddler twins. The party tray contains the perfect size for preschoolers to eat on their own with a variety snacks they like. To save time and try something new, we used the Hormel Always Tender Oven Ready Meats – Italian Style Chicken Breasts. With its ready to use feature, I was able to create a pasta side dish, salad, and garlic bread while the chicken breasts cooked in the oven. The oven ready chicken breasts were quite moist and tasty and our Groundhog Day celebration was ready! 🙂
Did your children learn about Groundhog Day?
Cute groundhog crafts! 🙂
Love the movie Groundhog Day! Absolutely a classic! Didn’t know about the oven ready meats; will have to look for it at the grocery store.
Oh my goodness. We didn’t celebrate because I felt like I was STUCK in Groundhog day, not knowing which day was which. BUT…. I absolutely love the Hormel Party trays. They are a must for get togethers as they’re my kids favorite.