Witaj :)
On 2 February, Phil the groundhog comes out of his burrow to predict the end of winter. If the sky is clear and Phil can see his shadow, it means winter will last for the next six weeks. If he doesn't see his shadow, you can expect spring soon. The tradition is known as Groundhog Day. Its largest celebration takes place in Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania, USA, and dates back to 1887.
According to the tradition, Phil announces his prediction to the president of the Groundhog Club in a special language called Groundhogese. The president is the only person who can speak this language, so he must translate the message for the rest of the world. If the prediction is wrong, the Groundhog Club explains that the president didn't understand Phil's language correctly.
Lots of people come every year to see what Phil will say and to have fun. But some groups protecting animals think that the organisers shouldn't show Phil to the crowds with flashing cameras because he gets very stressed. They suggest using a robotic groundhog instead. So, it's possible that in the future we won't see a sweet furry animal, but a machine.
