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Canadian groundhogs are predicting an early spring.
That’s good news for those who are tired of the cold and dark days of winter.
Groundhog Day, which traces back to ancient European weather lore and is observed annually on Feb. 2, is a fun, unscientific way of determining just how long winter will last. According to tradition, if a groundhog sees its shadow on that day, there will be six more weeks of winter, and if not, spring will come early.
In 2026, famous groundhogs in both Ontario and Quebec both did not see their shadow this morning, while the United States’ Punxsutawney Phil did see his, forecasting many more weeks of cold weather.
Groundhog Day was first brought to the United States by German immigrants in 18th or 19th centuries. Traditionally, Germans used hedgehogs or badgers, but since they were not present in the US, groundhogs were used instead.
The first official Groundhog Day celebration was in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
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Photo Credit: ID 38738126 © Brian Kushner | Dreamstime.com
