According to superstition, if Phil comes out of his burrow on Groundhog Day and sees his shadow, it will scare him enough that he’ll turn back around—a sign that we’ll have another six weeks of winter ...

German immigrants in Pennsylvania began observing early forms of Groundhog Day as a way to celebrate the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which has roots in the Pagan observance of Imbolc.

Candlemas’ roots are steeped in pre-Christian times. Traditionally, Celtic cultures celebrated four festivals that were based on seasonal turning points: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine and Lughnasa.