Groundhog Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, but the people who do celebrate it cherish this holiday. It includes a groundhog rising out of its tunnel on Tuesday, Feb. 2. If it sees its shadow, it will go back into its burrow, and winter will continue for six additional weeks. However, on the off chance that it does not see its shadow due to darkness, spring will show up sooner than expected.

Groundhog Day has its foundations in the ancient Christian custom of Candlemas, when the church would favor and give candles required for winter. The candles stood for how long and cold the winter would be. Germans developed this idea by choosing a creature, the hedgehog, as a method for predicting climate. The first known Groundhog Day festivity occurred on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It was the idea of the newspaper proofreader named Clymer Freas, who helped create this holiday.

Since it has been considered risky to have viewers this year, the celebration of the groundhog emerging will be live-streamed. The people who wish to see the event can visit the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s website for more data. The groundhog’s forecast will be made distantly and reported by a member of Investors Bank, which is the occasion’s yearly sponsor.

Although there are many downsides to virtual holidays, Groundhog Day might be different because it gives more people the chance to celebrate. Because many people have a device almost all the time, it will be easier for them to participate. According to Dr. Weiss-Wright, McAuliffe Middle School’s principal, “I think Groundhog Day can be very fun and is a cool tradition. I don’t really know anyone who has participated in a Groundhog Day celebration before, so maybe more people will if it’s virtual!”

All in all, even though there are some drawbacks to digital holidays, others can find hope in the toughest and sometimes unreasonable times. Stay safe this Groundhog Day, eagles!