Five Things , You Probably Didn't Know , About Groundhog Day.<br />1. Groundhog Day's roots <br />stretch far back into history. , According to Mental Floss, Imbolc was an ancient <br />pagan celebration of the beginning of spring.<br />1. Groundhog Day's roots <br />stretch far back into history. , According to Mental Floss, Imbolc was an ancient <br />pagan celebration of the beginning of spring.<br />Later, Christians would celebrate Candlemas, a feast day that fell 40 days after Christmas. .<br />2. The first modern <br />Groundhog Day event <br />was held in 1887. , According to Mental Floss, it took <br />place in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney. .<br />2. The first modern <br />Groundhog Day event <br />was held in 1887. , According to Mental Floss, it took <br />place in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney. .<br />3. Punxsutawney Phil actually <br />has a hit-or-miss record <br />at predicting the weather.<br />According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric <br />Association, the groundhog was only right<br />50% of the time between 2011 and 2020.<br />Not bad for a rodent <br />asked by humans <br />to predict the weather. .<br />4. According to the lore, <br />Punxsutawney Phil is 135 years old now. , Normally, groundhogs live to be approximately six years old. .<br />However, thanks to a magical elixir, <br />Phil has been predicting the weather since 1887. .<br />Of course, he's only been called Phil since 1961. , Before that he was known as "Br'er Groundhog" <br />or "The Punxsutawney Groundhog.".<br />5. Punxsutawney Phil goes to Washington, To celebrate Phil's 100th birthday, he traveled to the <br />White House and met with President Ronald Reagan. .<br />5. Punxsutawney Phil goes to Washington, To celebrate Phil's 100th birthday, he traveled to the <br />White House and met with President Ronald Reagan. .<br />According to Mental Floss, when Phil isn't <br />making his annual prediction, he lives with <br />his wife Phyllis in a sanctuary in the town library. .<br />According to Mental Floss, when Phil isn't <br />making his annual prediction, he lives with <br />his wife Phyllis in a sanctuary in the town library.
