Lyndsay Fogarty
The tradition of Groundhog Day goes back more than 100 years. Each year on Feb. 2, people look to the groundhog as he comes out of his hole. If he sees his shadow, that means there will be six more weeks of winter and he returns to his hole. If he does not see his shadow, that is a sign of spring and he stays above ground.
Early this morning, Punxatawney Phil made his yearly weather prediction, revealing there will be six more weeks of winter. Only time will tell if he’s correct.
Until then, here are five fun facts about Groundhog Day.
1. The earliest American settlers brought with them the tradition of Candlemas Day and its song, “If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and not come again.” Through this, the tradition of Groundhog Day was born.
2. The most famous groundhog in the United States is Punxsutawney Phil who makes his predictions from Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
3. The town of Punxsutawney celebrated its first Groundhog Day on Feb. 2, 1887.
4. According to folklore, there is only one Punxatawney Phil who gets his longevity from drinking one sip of the “elixir of life” every summer at the Groundhog Picnic. It is said to give him seven more years of life.
5. There are other groundhogs making predictions throughout the United States including Buckeye Chuck in Ohio, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia and Staten Island Chuck in New York City.
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