Groundhog Day is a widely celebrated holiday across the United States and Canada. Every year on February 2, millions of people await the news on whether we will receive more winter weather or early spring. This is determined every year by a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, who makes a prediction based on if he sees his shadow or not. This year, Phil did not see his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter weather.
Groundhog Day ceremonies are held every year, with the most frequently attended one held at Punxsutawney in Western Pennsylvania. The celebrations in Punxsutawney have produced crowds as large as 40,000 a year.
The holiday saw an increase in popularity once the 1993 film Groundhog Day was released. The film became an instant classic amongst fans and helped to increase awareness at Groundhog Day events. The film helped boost attendance at Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney as the average attendance rose from 2,000 to 10,000 a year.
While the holiday remains popular in the 21st century, there are no studies that support a correlation between the groundhog seeing his shadow and the changing of weather patterns.
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