The story behind the quirky holiday

Every year a groundhog predicts an early spring or a long winter.

How did people come to rely on a furry animal to forecast the weather? The customs of Groundhog Day date back to the 16th century. What is Groundhog Day? The day is observed every February 2 in the US and Canada. According to legend, if a groundhog (a species of marmot) emerges from its den and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it doesn’t see its shadow, spring weather is coming soon. The day has roots in ancient Europe, in the Christian holiday called Candlemas. Long before modern tools to predict the weather were invented, a sunny Candlemas was thought to mean 40 more days of winter. Later, Germans added small animals, like badgers and hedgehogs, to the holiday. If they saw their shadows,…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 197

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