By legend, on February 2nd in the United States a groundhog, an animal who is cousin to both the beaver and the squirrel, decides whether there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Groundhog Day in parts of America is a small, nonreligious holiday brought over by European immigrants in the 18th century. The holiday combines several pagan festivals where animals were celebrated as indicators of the next season.
Today, the biggest Groundhog Day's celebration occurs in central Pennsylvania in a small coal mining town called, Punxsutawney. On February 2nd, just as the sun rises, Punxsutawney Phil, America's most famous groundhog, awakes from his hibernation and bravely steps out of his hole. According to traditional folklore, if it is a cloudy day and Phil cannot see his shadow it means that it will be an early spring. However, if it is sunny when Phil steps out and he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.
If Phil does or does not see his shadow it doesn't matter on one level. The town always celebrates. Starting before sunrise, Punxsutawney residents and Groundhog Day enthusiasts from around the United States listen to music, eat good food, and wait for Phil to come out of his hole.
Due to the popularity of the holiday, and because groundhogs are found across North America (as far Northwest as Alaska, and as Southeast as Georgia), many towns and cities now have their own groundhogs to determine when spring will arrive. None, however, are as famous as Punxsutawney Phil.