European cultures have determined the end of winter through sunshine and animals since ancient times.
Every year on Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil emerges from the ground to tell the American public if there will be six more weeks of winter or if spring will come early. The legend goes: If he sees his shadow and retreats to his burrow, cold weather will persist into March. If he doesn’t see his shadow, then spring will begin.
The holiday, called Groundhog Day, is observed in the U.S. and Canada. But is the practice of predicting weather with animals uniquely American?
Did the weather-predicting tradition of Groundhog Day originate in America?
No, the weather-predicting tradition of Groundhog Day did not originate in America — its roots can be traced back to pre-Christian Europe.
“Groundhog Day” is currently a holiday unique to the United States and Canada, but it stems from European holidays held at the beginning of February that included weather predictions as part of their traditions.
The Library of Congress traces Groundhog Day back to a pre-Christian Celtic celebration called Imbolc that took place between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In the Gaelic cultures of Ireland and Scotland, a mythological hag or goddess associated with storms, winter and the creation of weather named Cailleach would spend Imbolc gathering firewood for the remainder of winter, according to the Beltane Fire Society, a Scottish organization that seeks to educate the public on Celtic festivals.
