Groundhog Day (USA)

Groundhog Day is a popular tradition celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2.

It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees a shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat back into its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if he does not, due to cloudiness, spring season will arrive early.

The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger is the forecasting animal. This appears to be an enhanced version of the lore that clear weather on Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.