Few people know this, but February 2, Groundhog Day, comes from the German Candlemas Day. It marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and vernal equinox.

It's really a "religious" day worshiping (if you will) fertility, purification, and weather divination. Candles were blessed and distributed to the masses signifying and praying that winter was on its way out. That depended on weather the hedgehog would see his shadow! I'm not sure about the segue. Of course, we now use the groundhog to "predict" the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

"If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again."

My Grandmother Conrad (from German Cunsraed)would recite the poem she was told by her grandmother: "If the sun shines on Candlemas Day, Half the wood and half the hay."

Like the kid says in the back seat, "Are we there yet?"