We’re forecast for an early spring, if you believe a rodent, that is.
Americans celebrate the annual Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Penn., today, Feb. 2.
On this special day, millions gather to find out if there will be a continuation of the winter season or have an earlier spring.
The famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, determines the upcoming weather when it peeks out of its burrow. If it sees its shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter, but if it doesn’t, then it is predicted to have an earlier spring.
This tradition is a fun way of predicting the coming seasons, but Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions are correct about only 40% of the time.
The long standing Groundhog Day tradition originated in 1887, according to History.com, and the 1993 classic film, “Groundhog Day” served to popularize the event more.
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