Astronomical based holiday based on sun/seasons

Equinoxes - occur twice each year, marking the points in spring and autumn when day and night are approximately equal in length. The Spring Equinox is March 20-21 while the Fall Equinox is September 22-23.

Solstices - occur twice a year, when sun reaches it’s either highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest day of the year during the Summer Solstice around June 21, and the shortest day during the Winter Solstice around December 21.

Cross Quarter Days - the days that fall roughly halfway between the solstices and equinoxes, marking the transition between seasons. These include Groundhog Day (February 2), Beltane (May 1), Lammas (August 1), and Samhain (November 1)

Another Cross Date is Halloween (end of Summer / death of plants etc. on Oct 31/Nov1

Why use groundhogs? Groundhogs are traditionally associated with predicting the weather for the upcoming season, specifically how much longer winter will last. This practice stems from the belief that if a groundhog sees its shadow on Groundhog Day, there will be six more weeks of winter, while no shadow indicates an early spring. / Origins- in Europe -Celts/ Germany.

Most famous PA Groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, who has been making weather predictions since 1887 and is celebrated with a large festival each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Name of groundhog that lives in Edgmont Pa. is edgemont ed, a prominent groundhog in known for his annual weather predictions.

Groundhog only correct only about 39% of the time.