Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 every year. On this day, people watch to see if a groundhog sees its shadow. If the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not, spring will come early.

The Famous Groundhog

The most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania. Every February 2, thousands of people gather to watch Phil come out of his burrow. A group of men in top hats called the Inner Circle take care of Phil. They say Phil has been making predictions for over 130 years. Of course, a real groundhog does not live that long, so there have been many Phils over the years.

How Accurate Is the Groundhog

The truth is that groundhogs are not very good at predicting the weather. Studies show Phil is correct only about 40 percent of the time. But people still love the tradition because it is fun and silly. The holiday came from a German tradition about a badger predicting the weather. When German settlers moved to Pennsylvania, they used a groundhog instead.

Fun Facts

• Punxsutawney Phil has been making predictions since 1887.
• Groundhogs are also called woodchucks and can dig burrows up to 66 feet long.
• A popular movie called Groundhog Day is about a man who lives the same day over and over.

Did You Know?

Groundhog Day started as a German tradition called Candlemas, where people watched a hedgehog or badger for signs of spring.