The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated in this country in 1887, but the tradition goes back many, many more years than that.

Since 1886, when the tradition began, Groundhog Day has been held on Feb. 2 every year. But it wasn’t always about a groundhog coming out of the ground to assess his shadow. The tradition came from a Christian religious holiday called Candlemas Day, according to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website.

Punxsutawney Phil. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and other celebrants gathered at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney this morning in order to consult with Pennsylvania’s most beloved groundhog and discover whether or not he saw his shadow.

The famous groundhog and his partner Phyllis welcomed two baby groundhogs -- also called pups, kits or cubs -- in March 2024, making Punxsutawney Phil the first prophetic groundhog to do so since 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Thousands gathered at a chilly Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Sunday for the 138th prognostication, on Groundhog Day 2025.

Groundhog Day is all about getting a weather report from a groundhog (or something else). Here's how accurate those prognosticators are according to NOAA.

So while there have likely been several Punxsutawney Phils since 1886, the Groundhog Club doesn't publicize that information, maintaining that Phil is over 130 years old thanks to the elixir of life. (The club also maintains that Phil is accurate 100% of the time, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it's more like 35% ).

What a mess on Groundhog Day in 2011. FOX6's Tom Wachs shows you the snowfall totals from that date in Milwaukee history.