Symbols of the day included Cupid, the Roman god of love and birds, stemming from the ancient belief that their mating season begins in mid-February; roses, a symbol of beauty and love; chocolates; and cards—all of which today are tokens of romantic affection.
But groundhogs? Where do they fit into our Valentine’s Day with its profusion of candies, cards, and candlelight dinners?
Phil and Phil
In Harold Ramis’s 1993 film “Groundhog Day,” arrogant and egocentric weather forecaster Phil Connors (Bill Murray), his cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott), and his producer Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell) are dispatched to Punxsutawney to cover Groundhog Day. Phil despises his assignment and the fact that he and the groundhog share the same name, treats everyone he meets with a condescending contempt, and can hardly wait to return to Pittsburgh.But a bad storm forces the trio to remain overnight in Punxsutawney, and when Phil awakens the next morning, it’s Groundhog Day once again. Everything that happened the day before is repeated, although only he realizes it. Even worse, this pattern becomes his life. Some strange twist of the universe forces Phil to relive Groundhog Day again and again and again.
![Phil (Bill Murray) throws caution to the wind in "Groundhog Day."](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F02%2F07%2Fgroundhog-day_281f8b38.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Turning Point
Finally, Phil confides in Rita and convinces her that the time warp in which he is stuck is real. She then offers to accompany him throughout the day to see if together they can discern what is happening to him. That night, before falling asleep in his room at the inn, she suggests that these days of repetition are a gift to Phil, a remarkable chance to make more of his life.![Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself stuck in a temporal loop, living the same day over and over again in “Groundhog Day.” (MovieStillsDB)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F02%2F07%2Fgroundhog-day_2862390d.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
In the morning, Rita has disappeared, and it’s once again Groundhog Day, but Phil is no longer the same man. He is gracious and kind to all those he has mistreated in the past, including Larry and Rita, and becomes adept at the piano, French, and ice-sculpting. By movie’s end, Phil has remade himself into a Renaissance man of grace, charm, and goodness.
This message of self-improvement and of fulfilling our potential has appealed to a broad range of viewers. In “The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Getting Ahead,” an ideal gift, by the way, for young people ages 17 to 25 or so, Charles Murray advises readers to “watch Groundhog Day repeatedly.” It is, he writes, “a profound moral fable that deals with the most fundamental issues of virtue and happiness” and “will help you live a good life.”
Love You Forever
At one point, Phil whispers to Rita, “You’re the kindest, sweetest, prettiest person I’ve ever met in my life.” He then kisses her on the cheek and tells her he’d been attracted to her since he first saw her, and adds: “I don’t deserve someone like you. But if I ever could, I swear I would love you for the rest of my life.”Rita has captured his heart. Like millions of men down through the centuries, Phil has fallen in love, realizes he doesn’t measure up to Rita’s expectations, and so strives to become a man more deserving of the woman he adores.
And he succeeds. His change to gentleman from jerk softens Rita’s heart. Earlier in the film, when Phil asks her, “Who is your perfect guy?” he sneers when Rita offers a list of attributes such as romantic, courageous, humble, supportive, and funny.
But by the end of “Groundhog Day,” Phil has become that guy. He has made himself worthy of love.
A Feast Day for Everyone
Through Rita, Phil Connors finally escapes Groundhog Day and resumes his life. His efforts to win her also connect him to the townspeople he once scorned. Love has conquered the cynic and narcissist.Now, of all our holidays, Valentine’s Day is the only date on the calendar dedicated to human love. It’s true that all the fuss is aimed at romantic love, candlelight dinners with that special one in your life, or a weekend getaway from the kids. It’s also true that these restrictions annoy others, who may feel excluded from the festivities.
But what if we added a few more ponies to that carousel? What if we kept the romance in place, but also viewed the holiday as a special occasion to express our affections to others we love, our family and friends? What if, as Phil learned to his credit, we made an effort on that day to honor and appreciate all those we love, seeking to strengthen our connections with them?
Heaven only knows our country is in need of those connections. That Americans are troubled nowadays, often divided and angry with one another, should be obvious to anyone who follows the news. Right now, I suspect, most of us could use a generous helping of love, and here’s a day designed for just that purpose.
It’s simple, really. All we really have to do on this day is to say “I love you” to those who should already know it.
Top that off with a serving all around of crème brûlée or chocolate-covered strawberries, and you’ll have a five-star Valentine’s Day.