Today is the Feast of the Presentation, and also in America it is Groundhog Day. Last year I discovered that the two are actually related. Another name for today’s feast is Candlemas ^[1], and according to Wikipedia ^[2]:

In the United Kingdom, good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather later: “If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, / winter will have another bite. / If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, / winter is gone and will not come again.” It is also alleged to be the date that bears emerge from hibernation to inspect the weather as well as wolves, who if they choose to return to their lairs on this day is interpreted as meaning severe weather will continue for another forty days at least. In the United States and Canada, Candlemas evolved into Groundhog Day celebrated on the same date.