Did the Groundhog see his shadow? 6 fun facts about Groundhog Day you never knew before

The fate between winter and spring anxiously awaited the arrival of the weather-predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. The furry groundhog emerged from his hole on February 2 in search of a shadow ... that he never found.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to legend, when the groundhog does not see his shadow, spring is expected sooner than later. If he had seen his shadow, we would expect up to six weeks more of winter. 

To celebrate the coming of spring, here are six fun facts about Groundhog Day that you didn't know before:

1. Groundhog Day comes from an ancient European celebration called Candlemas. The Old English Song goes: If Candlemas be fair and bright, come, Winter, have another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, go Winter, and come not again.

2. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has held the ceremony for 130 years and in 1886, declared their local groundhog the only true weather-predicting groundhog.

3. Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 lbs and is 22 inches long!

4. The groundhog gets a drink of "magical punch" at the annual Groundhog Picnic, giving him seven more years of life.

5. In the last 30 years, Phil the groundhog has been wrong about the weather about half the time. He has been right 13 times and wrong 15 times since 1988. 

6. Since 1887, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow 102 times and did not see his shadow 18 times. 

In the words of the Groundhog day celebration's announce, "Take your jackets off!" Spring may be coming early this year. 

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