What is the relationship between Groundhog Day and Candlemas Day in the United States?

Groundhog Day is Candlemas Day on February 2nd every year, which is the same day.

Kyndelmisse (Kyndelmisse), also known as "The Purification Day of the Virgin" or "The Day of the Presentation of the Lord", is on February 2, that is, 40 days after the birth of the Virgin Mary, she took Jesus to the Memorial day for prayers in Jerusalem.

February 2nd every year is the traditional Groundhog Day in the United States. On this day, the hibernating groundhog wakes up and comes out of its hole to predict spring. Generally speaking, the groundhog needs to look at its own shadow. If it sees its shadow, it will go back to its hole and go to sleep, because spring will not come for another 6 weeks. If the groundhog cannot see its own shadow, it will go back to its hole to sleep. The shadow means that spring is coming. Why choose February 2nd? Because this day comes from "Candlemas", which is the 40th day after Christmas. On this day, Catholics light candles to commemorate the Virgin Mary. This is a European tradition, as the poem goes:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Winter has another flight.

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Winter will not come again.

When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, these people, known as Pennsylvania Dutch, brought this tradition to the United States, prediction The glorious task of spring is left to the indigenous American "prairie dogs".

Generally speaking, on February 2nd, the groundhog comes out of its hole, and all major TV stations broadcast this event live. If the weather is good, the groundhog can see his own Shadow, according to tradition, if the sun shines brightly on February 2, the weather will be bad for the next six weeks and winter will continue. If the weather is bad on this day, then the groundhog cannot see his shadow, which means that spring has arrived.