Why Do We Rely on Groundhogs to Predict Spring?

With the recent cold snap, the prospect of Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day is especially daunting.

Groundhog Day is on Saturday, Feb. 2 this year, and last week's Arctic temperatures are giving the day a bit more resonance than usual. According to the myth, if a groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if he does not, spring is right around the corner. Last year, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter while Staten Island Chuck called for an early spring. Groundhog Day and other similar legends are based on the beliefs of Europeans, but the true origins of the holiday are lost in time. The day originated from the Germans, Scots and early Christian Europeans. It is celebrated every year on Feb. 2. On this day, a groundhog comes out of its burrow and checks for his shadow to determine …

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