Groundhog Day is a centuries old tradition and superstition initially celebrated in Pennsylvania, but the event has gained nationwide recognition over the past decades.
Groundhog Day is rooted in European folklore where a hedgehog or hibernating animal’s emergence from winter sleep is believed to predict the weather for the rest of winter.
Groundhog Day is always on Feb. 2, which this year in 2026 lands on a Monday.
In the United States, the holiday revolves around the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.
Punxsutawney Phil is the groundhog residing in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, responsible for these winter predictions every year.
The legend says if the groundhog sees his shadow, then six more weeks if winter is predicted. If he does not, it’s a forecast of an early spring.
This year, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter on around 7:25 a.m. ET.
This Monday marks the fifth time in six years that Phil’s handlers have said he predicted a longer winter over early spring.
Following this, approximately 30,000 people braced for the winter chill thanks to Punxsutawney Phil’s weather prediction during the 140th annual Groundhog Day festivities.
