When groundhog day becomes controversial

Groundhog Day levity has arrived just in time — but not everyone thinks so.

Every Feb. 2, Phil the Groundhog emerges from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. If he sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks; if not, spring is just around the corner.

This quirky ritual was brought to Punxsutawney in 1887 by Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants of German descent. Its roots trace to European weather lore on Candlemas Day, a Christian feast celebrated Feb. 2. In German-speaking regions, a proverb held that sunny skies on Candlemas meant more winter, while cloudy skies signaled an early spring.