Hedgehog Day

Hedgehog Day was observed by the Romans during the Festival of Februa on February 2. It is believed that when a hibernating hedgehog emerges from its den on Hedgehog Day and sees its shadow, there is a clear moon and six more weeks of winter.

This popular holiday in Europe was then copied by the original American settlers as Groundhog Day, replacing the hedgehog with a groundhog since there are no native hedgehogs in the Americas.