Seven in ten know the groundhog's shadow means six more weeks of winter

May 22–24, 2024 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.3%Source report ↗

Core finding

Most Americans (71%) know the folklore: a groundhog that sees its shadow on February 2nd means six more weeks of winter, according to a May 2024 Verasight survey.

One-in-five (20%) instead read the shadow as a sign that spring is around the corner, while smaller shares take it to mean a warmer-than-usual winter (4%) or nothing at all (2%); another 4% do not know.

Topline distribution

Seven in ten know the groundhog's shadow means six more weeks of winter.

Each year on February 2nd, people in the U.S. take note of Ground Hog Day. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow on that morning, what is that supposed to tell us? (Please answer from your own current knowledge, without consulting external sources.)

Six more weeks of winter
70.5%
Spring is right around the corner
20.1%
Don't know
3.9%
Winter is warmer than usual
3.6%
This doesn't tell us anything
1.8%

n = 1,000 · May 22–24, 2024 · MoE ±3.3%

ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesMay 22–24, 2024
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.3%
ModuleVerasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2024-054
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    Each year on February 2nd, people in the U.S. take note of Ground Hog Day. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow on that morning, what is that supposed to tell us? (Please answer from your own current knowledge, without consulting external sources.)

    verasight-aapor-2024.tiiny.co

Cite this question

Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2024-054, fielded May 22-24, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.