Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. The celebration, which was the subject of the classic 1993 Bill Murray film, originated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and predicts whether the town will see an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

The tradition is based on an old Germanic legend in which a groundhog (or woodchuck) named Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his den every year. If the groundhog sees his shadow as he leaves his den, it means winter will last another six weeks, but if it sees a cloudy day, it means spring will arrive early.

Did the groundhog see his shadow?

The most well-known groundhog in the world noticed his shadow early on Thursday. According to Groundhog Day lore, the United States should be ready for six more weeks of winter. As per custom, shortly after 7:20 a.m. EST, a cheerful group of top-hatted handlers from the Groundhog Club Inner Circle extracted Phil from his burrow atop Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Punxsutawney Phil’s yearly forecast is released as Winter Storm Mara batters Texas and other Southern states with sleet and freezing rain, making travel treacherous and leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity.

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Here’s all you need to know about Groundhog day-

Groundhog Day is associated with Candlemas, which occur at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. During Candlemas, Christians celebrate the changing of the seasons by lighting candles to predict the length of winter. Groundhog Day was first observed on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The day’s celebrations took up permanent residence at Gobbler’s Knob in 1888.

It is reported that the town of Punxsutawney receives thousands of tourists for the holiday, but this number has risen dramatically in the year since Groundhog Day was released. In the aftermath, Punxsutawney and Woodstock, the towns where the film was shot, host tourist events.

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In simpler terms, Groundhog Day is an American tradition in which the nation’s most famous groundhog predicts the upcoming season. If the animal sees his shadow, he predicts that the winter season will last six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see his shadow, it is thought to be an indication of an early spring.

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Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2. While it is not a federal holiday, most Americans look forward to seeing if Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, sees his shadow every year on the same day. It is commonly marked by a variety of events, beginning with the sunrise at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney.

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club also heralds the day with talent shows, banquets, and performances preceding and following the festivities.