Can You Trust the Groundhog's Shadow? Explore the Accuracy and Tradition of Groundhog Day

We all know that that furry forecaster in Pennsylvania popping up each February 2nd to predict winter's length. It sounds like a fun piece of folklore, but what's the real story behind America's most famous weather-predicting rodent, the groundhog, and just how accurate are its predictions?

The Origins of the Legend:

Long before Punxsutawney Phil made headlines, German settlers brought an old tradition to Pennsylvania. They watched badgers and hedgehogs for weather clues. Finding no badgers in the New World, they turned to the abundance of groundhogs instead.First celebrated in 1887, Punxsutawney's Groundhog Day has now become an American icon (3).

Think about it - one small town's weather-watching woodchuck turned into national news, complete with top-hatted handlers speaking "groundhogese." A silly as it sounds, this is an actual term used to describe the sort of “secret” language groundhogs speak to us regarding winter weather patterns.

The Origin of the Name