Groundhog day is a classic North American holiday and tradition.

Every year, Punxsutawney Phil exits his groundhog nest and, depending on whether or not he sees his shadow, predicts how long the winter will continue.

This year Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, meaning we’ll see more long weeks of winter.

The tradition originates from an ancient German holiday called Candlemas, using a badger instead of a groundhog. If the badger would emerge and see its shadow, winter would go on for four more weeks.

Now the ceremony takes near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The ceremony takes place at Gobbler’s Knob a site a few miles outside of Punxsutawney.

Every year on Feb. 2, once Phil emerges from his den, he tells the President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle his prediction. Phil also tells him in “Groundhogese” a language that only the president understands.

Sources like Stormfax, Almanac, and Weather Underground give Phil an accuracy of about 36%-39%, but a Middlebury College team found Phil to be 70% accurate.

The Groundhog Inner Circle claims that Phil is 80% accurate and blames the wrong predictions on the President’s translation of the groundhog’s prediction.

Senior Jiad Kokaly doesn’t understand the hype.

“I never understood why Groundhog Day is so important?” said Kokaly, “It’s a groundhog leaving its hole and people watching its shadow, which may scare it away.”

Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil is 100% or 0% accurate, Groundhog day is a beacon of hope for those tired of winter.