February 2 is Groundhog Day, the long‑standing North American tradition rooted in old Pennsylvania Dutch folklore. According to the superstition, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow today and sees its shadow, winter sticks around for six more weeks. If there’s no shadow, spring is on the way. Simple, charming — and scientifically inconsistent, but beloved all the same.
The tradition traces back to German‑speaking immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. In Europe, badgers and sometimes bears were the weather‑predicting animals tied to Candlemas, a Christian festival also associated with forecasting the length of winter. When settlers arrived in North America and found no badgers, they turned to the groundhog — or dachs, dox, grundsau, depending on the dialect — a hibernating creature perfectly suited for the role.
The most famous celebration happens in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds gather at Gobbler’s Knob to hear the prediction of Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog whose legend stretches back to 1887. Attendance exploded after the 1993 film Groundhog Day, and today tens of thousands show up — with many more watching online. Phil has seen his shadow plenty of times over the decades, including in 2025 and 2026, each time forecasting six more weeks of winter.
Whether you treat it as folklore, fun, or a mid‑winter morale boost, Groundhog Day remains one of the quirkiest and most enduring traditions shared between the U.S. and Canada.
Before you check whether Phil saw his shadow, here’s your Tillsonburg fuel update:
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Pioneer: $124.9
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Esso: $124.9
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Shell: $126.9
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Petro Canada: $125.9
Whatever the forecast — early spring or more winter ahead — a full tank keeps you moving through it.
