Groundhog Day
In seventeenth century Europe, a common belief was that if it was sunny on Candlemas Day, celebrated February 2nd, then winter would remain another six weeks. The Germans added the twist that if a hedgehog was frightened by his shadow on Candlemas Day, winter would last another six weeks. This belief was brought to America during the eighteenth century by German settlers, but hedgehogs were in short supply so they used a groundhog. The holiday was popularized by Clymer H. Freas, a newspaper editor, and W. Smith, a congressman and newspaper publisher, who created the festival surrounding Pennsylvania's groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.
See also: holidays
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