Did you know?
Did you know Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2, giving Canadians a light-hearted way to check in on winter and look ahead to spring?
The tradition comes from old European seasonal customs and has become part of Canadian folklore. Across the country, familiar names like Wiarton Willie in Ontario and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia step into the spotlight. According to legend, if a groundhog sees its shadow on a bright morning, winter is said to last six more weeks. No shadow suggests an early spring.
Over the years, different groundhogs have filled these roles, but the names live on as part of the tradition. As for accuracy, groundhog predictions tend to be right only about 30 per cent of the time — making a simple coin toss, with its near 50–50 odds, a slightly better forecast. Accuracy aside, Groundhog Day remains a cheerful reminder that winter won’t last forever.