February brings love, roses, Valentines and groundhogs. In early February, Phil, the groundhog breaks hibernation. He leaves his burrow. He and his shadow predict whether spring is around the corner, or whether there are six long weeks of winter to come.

How did this groundhog named Phil become a most famous meteorologist? Why do people flock to Punxsutawney, Pa., each year on the second day of February to find out whether the groundhog sees his shadow? How did such a tradition come about?

Groundhog Day marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The date marks the retreat from the long, cold, dark winter and the start of the trek to the days of spring when days get longer. You have probably noticed it is light outside at 5:30p.m. the past week or two — hip hip hooray — which is the promise of spring is on the way no matter the groundhog’s prediction.

The history of Groundhog Day began with the pagans in Europe. This was the day they renewed their supply of candles to get by until spring. As Christianity grew in Europe, the day became known as Candlemas. When the candles were lit, if they cast shadows, the long winter continued. If there was no shadow, spring was near.

According to an English folk song: “If Candlemas be fair and bright / Come, Winter, have another flight; / If Candlemas brings clouds and rain / Go Winter, and come not again.”

As time went on, a small animal, awakening after a winter’s hibernation, was used to announce the forecast.

Medieval Christians recognized Candlemas as the date the baby Jesus was presented in the Temple by his mother Mary. The custom of the day declared that women remain isolated after childbirth for a specified period of time.

The day of observing the animals’ shadow came to America’s shores with the German immigration into Pennsylvania in the later 1800s. The hedgehog (used in Germany) was replaced by the north American groundhog. Today, we think of them as plentiful with all the issues we face with groundhogs in the city and on farms — which can damage buildings and eat a vegetable or two.

In Ohio, groundhogs were relatively rare when the settlers came. Their increased numbers came as forests became farmland. Their burrows can be up to 45 feet in length and up to five feet underground. They are herbivores and can eat up to 1.5 pounds of vegetation a day.

I learned more about the history of the day from an online visit to the city website of Punxsutawney, Pa. This is the hometown to the famous groundhog, Phil.

The first official Groundhog Day as we know it took place in 1887. A townsman organized and promoted a groundhog hunt. The game hunt was followed by a huge feast of the roasted captured ground rodent and was so successful that it continued each year. Can you imagine that?

Groundhog Day eventually grew into the celebration and tourist destination that we see today. Thousands of visitors flood the Pennsylvanian town each year to see if the groundhog will see his shadow. This year will be no exception as we anxiously await Phil the groundhogs’ February prediction for spring. And the anticipation of spring is needed now, probably more than ever!

To learn more about Phil and his tradition, go to Punxsutawney.com.

To learn more about groundhogs in Ohio and your options when they become a pest, go to http://go.osu.edu/groundhog.

Smith is an Ohio State University Mahoning County Extension Master Gardener volunteer.