The town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania held its first Groundhog Day celebration in the 1800s. Every year on February 2, their special meteorologist groundhog, known as Punxsutawney Phil, comes out of his den and predicts the weather.
According to tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow, gets scared and runs back into hiding, the prediction is six more weeks of winter weather. If the groundhog has no shadow, it means we can expect an early spring.
While Groundhog Day is a bit quirky for a holiday, it is based on strong tradition and meant to educate and entertain at the same time.
Groundhog facts:
- Groundhogs are also called woodchucks. They are the largest species in the squirrel family.
- They typically weigh 12 to 15 pounds and live six to eight years.
- Groundhogs eat vegetables and fruits.
