What's the significance behind Groundhog Day? This time of year we start to hear about likely the most famous weather forecaster in the world, a rodent...but why is this a thing? Author: Robert Speta Updated: 9:49 PM EST January 31, 2021 This time of year we start to hear about likely the most famous weather forecaster in the world; Punxsutawney Phil. It’s such a bogus unique American tradition, will this rodent see his shadow or not? Why do we care? Well, it goes back a bit, it actually comes from the Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s and brought their holiday Candlemas. In short, it's a holiday that wraps up the Christmas season as people start to look towards spring. What is interesting is there is a scientific reason for the date Feb. 2, it is halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.