As February approaches, many of us look forward to Groundhog Day—a quirky tradition where a furry forecaster, Punxsutawney Phil, emerges from his burrow to predict the weather. While it might seem like just another off-holiday, Groundhog Day has a fascinating history, charming quirks and even some surprising ties to ancient traditions.

Groundhog Day has its roots in Candlemas, a Christian holiday marking the midpoint between winter and spring. In Europe, clergy would bless candles and distribute them to predict the remaining length of winter. Over time, the tradition evolved to involve animals. In Germany, it was the hedgehog that became the official weather predictor.

When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, they found an abundance of groundhogs, or woodchucks, and swapped the spiny hedgehog for its fluffier cousin. Thus, Groundhog Day as we know it was born.

Since 1887, the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has hosted the most famous Groundhog Day celebration, starring Punxsutawney Phil. Every February 2, Phil emerges from Gobbler’s Knob to predict whether winter will linger or spring will arrive early. According to tradition, if Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter await. If not, spring is just around the corner.

But here’s the catch: Phil’s predictions are only about 39 percent accurate, according to weather experts. That’s right—this little rodent’s forecasting skills aren’t exactly reliable, but it’s all part of the fun.

Punxsutawney Phil isn’t the only weather-predicting groundhog—he shares the spotlight with Staten Island Chuck in New York and General Beauregard Lee in Georgia, who also make their forecasts each year. Phil's legendary status of living for over 100 years thanks to a secret ‘groundhog elixir” (a playful myth, of course), is part of what makes the holiday so magical. Groundhog Day’s popularity skyrocketed with the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, cementing the holiday’s place in pop culture as more than just a fun tradition.

While Groundhog Day doesn’t come with a day off, many students probably wouldn’t mind if Punxsutawney Phil called for an extended winter. Just imagine: a few more snow days to sleep in or enjoy hot chocolate while avoiding that dreaded walk to school.

So whether you trust Phil’s forecast or just enjoy the whimsy of it all, Groundhog Day is a charming reminder to embrace the lighter side of life—even if it means relying on a groundhog to decide your weather fate.

Happy Groundhog Day! Will we get more winter or an early spring? Only Phil knows (sort of).