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Newport News mayor proclaims February 2 “Bill Murray Day”

Posted at 10:23 AM, Jan 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-27 15:20:18-05

Newport News, Va. – Mayor McKinley Price has proclaimed Tuesday, February 2 as “Bill Murray Day” to help bring the actor to The Virginia Living Museum.

The museum launched a social media campaign asking Murray to attend their Groundhog Day Ceremony using the hashtag #HelpChuckMeetBillMurray.

Groundhog Day is an American tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive. This tradition started in Europe as Candelmas Day. Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s brought the custom to America.

The Virginia Living Museum’s groundhog, Chesapeake Chuck, will determine if Hampton Roads will experience six more weeks of winter or have an early spring.

Murray starred in the classic film Groundhog Day in 1993.

The museum mailed Murray a formal invitation to the ceremony, along with a puppet replica of Chesapeake Chuck.

The museum has placed a life-size cut out of the actor in their lobby for people to take a picture with to share on social media sites.

The ceremony is about 30 minutes and begins at noon.  Directions to the museum can be found here.