How Groundhog Day Became America’s Favorite Fake Forecast

Winters, especially this one, feel endless. Darkness lingers, the cold bites, and people search for any sign that spring might come soon. Sometimes, that sign comes in the form of a small animal stepping out of its burrow.

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A groundhog.

Roots in Old Traditions

German immigrants in the 1700s and 1800s brought Groundhog Day to America, a custom from Europe tied to Candlemas, a Christian holiday on February 2, marking the midpoint of winter.

In German-speaking areas, people watched critters such as badgers and hedgehogs to see if they saw their shadow on a sunny day. Their shadow represents six more weeks of winter. If they didn’t see it, then spring would arrive early.

There weren’t any badgers