GROUNDHOG DAY

(February 2), in U.S. popular tradition, the day that the groundhog, or woodchuck, comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of coming spring and stays above ground. Convincing statistical evidence does not support this tradition. The tradition, which sometimes includes the bear or badger, stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas (also February 2) in England. According to an old English song: If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas bring clouds and rain, Go, Winter, and come not again.