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Happy Groundhog Day!

Written and fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Groundhog handler Ron Ploucha holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter during 126th annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2012 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. omen — Jeff Swensen—Getty Images News/Thinkstock

All eyes and ears turn to the furry forecaster.

Learn More About This Topic

How long will this winter last?
Here's looking at you, groundhog.
Where is the site of the traditional ’hog hoopla?
Who was the legendary Punxsutawney Phil supposedly named after?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Happy Groundhog Day!". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Feb. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/story/happy-groundhog-day. Accessed 28 March 2025.

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verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Happy Groundhog Day!". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Feb. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/story/happy-groundhog-day. Accessed 28 March 2025.