Groundhog Day has been a popular tradition that originates from the ancient Christian tradition called Candlemas. Candlemas Day was the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. According to the tradition, if the weather was nice on this day, the following weeks up until spring were to be rainy and dark. In 1886, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is where the modern tradition of groundhog Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction started. In this tradition that has lasted over a century, Phil comes out of his home in the ground to see the world. If it is a sunny day, and he sees his shadow, he will climb back into his underground home, meaning six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, he will stay above, meaning spring will come early. This year, Punxsutawney Phil predicted that there will be six more weeks of wintery weather.

“I am so upset that the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, because I love warmer weather,” sophomore Samantha Terrell said . “It reminds me of summer, which means no school.”

Several students are not very pleased with Phil’s prediction of the lasting winter.

“I’m pretty sad that he said there would be more winter because I’m running out of winter clothes,” junior Eighmy Dobbins said, “and I’m cold.”

Not everyone is completely against the foretelling of a persisting winter.

“Though this hasn’t been the most wintery season, I must say I don’t want it to end yet,” sophomore Reign Bach said. “I’m glad the groundhog has predicted a longer winter.”

Regardless of Phil’s long history and relatively good accuracy in the past, most students don’t believe that his prediction is factual.

“I don’t believe in the groundhog because it’s just an old myth that doesn’t make sense,” junior Eighmy Dobbins said. “How can an animal predict our weather when the forecast guy can’t even get it right?”

Some students are skeptical because the weather is already imitating spring.

“I don’t think that the groundhog’s prediction is correct, because this winter hasn’t been very cold and it’s already starting to get warm outside,” sophomore Ruby Dekay said. “Also, because it’s a groundhog.”

Despite his lack of believers, Punxsutawney Phil has a few who still have hope in his forecast.

“I think the groundhog’s prediction is very accurate. I mean, they’re very intelligent animals, so they would know,” sophomore Samantha Terrell said. “God created groundhogs for a reason, you know? I feel like that’s their purpose in life: to predict the weather on Feb. 2nd.”