Today is...Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day. What would you like to rename Punxsutawney Phil?

Groundhog Day has its origins in Candlemas day, which is the celebration of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

According to a diary entry, dated February 4, 1841, the Germans started the tradition of watching the groundhog to see if he would see his shadow.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where up to 40,000 people have gathered to celebrate the holiday each early going back as early as at least 1886.

Most people know quite a bit about Groundhog Day because of the 1993 movie by the same name, starting Bill Murray.

Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil says, Groundhog Day is almost seven weeks prior to the official first day of spring, so no matter what the groundhog does, the Vernal Equinox still occurs at the same time.