Groundhog Day is the day that happens once a year on February 2 that tells people whether there will be a longer winter or an early spring.

The weather prediction all depends on a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil who is 134 years old. You may be wondering how a groundhog can live that long, and so have many other people. It is said that Phil drinks a mysterious elixir every summer to extend his life for seven years. William Deeley, the president of the Punxsutaney Groundhog Club, has refused to share how many groundhogs there have been. According to Wikipedia, scientists say Phil has been replaced 13 times due to the fact that a groundhog’s average lifespan is 10 years.

According to the History.com Staff, the first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This tradition of predicting the weather has been around for years and celebrated in the United States and Canada. It derived from the Celts and quickly became a tradition.

Many may be confused on what happens if the groundhog sees it’s shadow or not. If the groundhog sees it’s shadow, due to clear weather, then Phil will retreat back to his hole and winter will continue for six more weeks. If the groundhog doesn’t see it’s shadow, due to clear weather, then there will be an early spring.

This year the groundhog Phil was set out on Sunday, February 2, and did not see his shadow. He predicted an early spring that many are excited about after the long winter. According to the Washington Post, Phil has seen his shadow 104 times and on 20 occasions, he failed to see it. This is the second time Phil has not seen his shadow in a row.

According to USA Today Phil has been correct about 14 times, and wrong about 17 times. Phil’s predictions are about as accurate as a coin flip because of the fifty-fifty chance. Many believe in the groundhog named Phil and many don’t, but everyone has their own opinion. It’s a fun tradition of the groundhog that will continue for years to come.