Happy Groundhog Day!

We don't really go around wishing people "Happy Groundhog Day," but it is still a very American tradition. So why do we have Groundhog Day? Since I was curious myself I did a little research. I found that: 

The Groundhog Day came into being in North America during the late 1800s. Thanks to the combined effort of Clymer H. Freas, a newspaper editor, and W. Smith, an American Congressman and newspaper publisher. They organized and popularized a yearly festival in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the State was populated predominantly by German settlers. The festival featured a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil which used to foretell how long the winter would last. This very popular event is still being held and is called Groundhog Day.

I also found that 90% of the time Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog who makes the prediction) sees his shadow.

This website has some interesting facts about Groundhog day.
Punxsutawney Phil's whole name is: Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary. Not bad for a groundhog that works one day a year.

Phil's official forecast this year:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

Here is a brief history on Groundhog Day.
Now you know about the American tradition of Groundhog Day.