Lila Almeida 
By Lila De Almeida
Every year, on February 2, Americans and Canadians celebrate Groundhog Day. According to tradition, if Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog named for the town in Pennsylvania in which the ceremony takes place, emerges from his burrow and casts a shadow, we will experience another six weeks of winter. If it’s too cloudy for this to happen, then spring will arrive early. This year, Phil saw his shadow, meaning that the USA and Canada should expect six more weeks of cold.
This folklore has been practiced since 1886, and the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club claims that the same groundhog has been making predictions since then. This is unlikely, since the average lifespan of a groundhog in captivity is ten to fifteen years, according to Autumn Buck. Still, the tale of the 136-year-old groundhog keeps the tradition magical and fun!
