Will the groundhog see his shadow this year? What is the meaning of Groundhog Day—and why do we celebrate weather predictions from a plump marmot? Here’s all you need to know about Groundhog Day!
According to legend, if a groundhog sees its shadow on this day, there will be six more weeks of winter; if it doesn’t, then spring is right around the corner.
Of course, it’s a bit of a joke. As the Almanac says, “If he sees his shadow, we’ll have six more weeks of winter; if he doesn’t, it’ll be six weeks till spring” because, of course, the dates of the equinox do not change.
Groundhog Day has deeper meaning because it speaks to the triumph of spring over winter—and birth over death. Originally, this was a Celtic festival marking the cross-quarter day, or midpoint of the season.
Today, that lore has grown into fun winter festivals, with Punxsutawney Phil and furry fellows in other states presiding. For all things groundhog, visit the folks at Punxsutawney.
How often has the groundhog really predicted the coming of spring? According to researchers, the groundhog has accurately predicted the coming of spring only 39 percent of the time (at the time of this writing). No matter what the percentage, it’s a fun time had by all!
Just knowing that Spring is around the corner is the best about Groundhog Day.
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