Spring arrives with such beauty but contract a question when? On February 2nd ,a popular tradition in United States is Groundhogs day, which elaborates on an old tradition.
It was a time the farmers could determine how long winter will stay. In popular belief, many believe the groundhog could forecast weather by coming out of hibernation and show sighs.
Myths like this show ties that we are still tied to our past with natures myths.
That shadows can play a part in determining how long a winter can be.

The myth shows that we are instilled to our ancestor’s ways.
the prediction goes like this...

If he sees his shadow , he regards it as a sigh of six more weeks of bad weather
and he'll returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy, shadow less, he will takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

The ground hog tradition started long ago with similar association with the Candlemas Day.
Centuries have past the day remains part of many European customs.
tradition has it in those days the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people.
They then put the candles in there windows of their home to ward off winter.
Even then, it marked a milestone in winter by a clergy blessing a candle in hopes that winter would be over.



According to an old English song related to Candlemas was:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

According to an old Scotch couplet:

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be twa (two) winters in the year.

Another variation of the Scottish rhyme:

If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul,
The half of winter's gone at Yule.



During the Roman times the Roman Legions brought the legion to life and in their conquest in Northern parts of Europe.
Romans brought this tradition to the Tuetrons (Germans)Christians.
Who concluded that if the sun appeared on Candlemas day,
a hedgehog would see its shadow, six more weeks of winter would follow.


They then wrote quotes.. For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until the May.

In later centuries American farmers adopted their own sayings.
Groundhog Day - Half your hay.
 

American Tradition Then Began:

This tradition was brought to America in the 18th century by the Pennsylvania Dutch .
Though there were no hedgehogs like the ones in Europe they adapted the Groundhog as the mascot.
There are many names for this creature Woodchuck, Marmots or Whistlepigs, they are of the rodent family.
They were long to be known to bring havoc to the farmers by destroying crops, injuring livestock, and foraging their gardens.
Though these animals brought such calamity to the farmer’s life.

The farmers lived up to their past tradition and passed onto their kin folks a popular day to live in the hearts its lore.
It was not until later years an earlier news editor, Clymer H. Freas, with help from a congressman W. Smith,
brought the holiday to life in the 1880s. In the year 1886 it became the popular event.
In a settlement called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania ,where an annual festival is held in honor
of one such groundhog.
The celebrated day featured a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phi.
He was used to foretell how long the winter would last.
In other parts of United states they have their own popular Groundhogs one honorably mentioned is
New York City's official groundhog is called "Pothole Pete.


Today through the media and through the popularized tradition we continue to honor this day.
We celebrate the day on February 2nd. This is not a popular holiday, like others that have been elaborated on by Americans.
It is only a breaking point to give hope to the dreary days of winter, that would give way to spring.

In other countries like Canada the day has its showings too with very similar festivities.
With the most popular groundhog being Wiarton Willy, he predicts Canadian winters.
He is a extraordinary white albino groundhog very rare indeed.