Groundhog Day Party Ideas
Themes, Food, and Music for February's Most Overlooked Holiday
Don't let another February 2 pass you by without a festive Groundhog Day party! Here are some ideas to help you celebrate.
Looking for a way to add some festive fun to a gloomy February day? Why not have a Groundhog Day party? This February 2 "holiday" celebrates the annual weather forecast of the groundhog. As legend has it, if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter, and if he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
The beginning of February is a great time for a party because it's so miserable out, and because the Christmas and holiday festivities are long gone and have left people hungry for some merriment. Sure, there's Valentine's Day, but that's not exactly a party holiday, and it's not a festive day at all for people who aren't in love. And unlike religious holidays like Christmas and neo-Pagan holidays like Halloween, Groundhog Day is free of the political and religious debate over its public celebration, as you'll have to look far and wide to find someone who's offended by groundhog images (or so one hopes).
So why not start a new tradition and make your own holiday fun in February? Here are some ideas on how to throw a memorable Groundhog Day party.
Green and White Color Theme
Unlike more established holidays, Groundhog Day doesn't come with official colors, but if it did, they would probably be green (for spring) and white (for winter). Decorate your home with green and white streamers and balloons and such, and play upon the green and white theme. Perhaps all of your food can be green or white, and if you have a potluck, you can ask guests to bring green or white dishes. If you serve a Groundhog Day cake, you can offer an accompanying choice of spring ice cream (mint chocolate chip) or winter ice cream (vanilla). Use your imagination and dream up some unique green and white cocktails, or rely on favorites like the grasshopper and the white Russian.
Spring and Winter Theme
Another fun theme to play upon is the seasons. Perhaps you can decorate one room as the "winter room"--with white streamers, a Christmas tree, homemade snowflakes, sleighs, and so forth-- and another room as the "spring room"-- with green streamers, outdoor toys like tricycles and hula-hoops, homemade leaves, and so forth. You might ask guests to dress in winter or spring clothes, or a combination of such (such as shorts and a T-shirt with a stocking cap and gloves).
Groundhog Theme
Don't forget to celebrate the little guy himself. Get yourself some toy stuffed groundhogs (there's a groundhog Beanie Baby that you can probably find on eBay) and create the equivalent of a manger scene with the groundhog peeking out of a cave to look for his shadow. Or create some tasty "groundhog feed" for your guests, with nuts, candy, and whatever it is you figure the groundhog might like to eat.
The Groundhog Day Movie
Groundhog Day doesn't come with as many movies as Christmas, but it does come with one-- the 1993 flick Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell (with a special appearance by Stephen Tobolowsky, who plays creepy Bob on Heroes). Keep the movie on in the background, perhaps with the sound turned down, and be sure to play it over and over again. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know why.)
Groundhog Day Music
Need a Groundhog Day party mix? Be sure to include "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher, which plays a key role in the Groundhog Day movie. You might also want to write some Groundhog Day carols to the tune of Christmas carols, such as "The Twelve Hours of Groundhog Day" or "Groundhog Day is the Happiest Time of the Year" (use your imagination). Other songs can reflect a winter theme (Christmas music may work here, or at least songs like "Winter Wonderland") or spring theme. Here are some suggestions:
- "Hazy Shade of Winter"-- Simon & Garfunkel or The Bangles
- "Cold as Ice"-- Foreigner
- "Winter"-- Tori Amos
- "Winter"-- The Rolling Stones
- "Winter Time"-- the Steve Miller Band
- "Spring Affair"--Donna Summer
- "Spring Fever"--Elvis Presley
- "Spring Rain"--Go-Betweens
A Merry Groundhog Day to you and yours!
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