Did it see its shadow? Feb 2, 2021

For many people, the last year has been a bit like the movie "Groundhog Day," with every day feeling the same. But today actually is Groundhog Day. This marmot in Austria popped up to see…a rainbow? We"re not sure what that means for the weather forecast, but it feels like a good sign. (The groundhog is a type of North American marmot.) In the US, the tradition says that if the groundhog sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter are in store. If it doesn"t, then we"re looking at an early spring. There"s no science behind it; the custom has its roots in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and was popularized by the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper in Pennsylvania in 1887—and again by the Bill Murray movie in 1993.

© SeppFriedhuber/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 2, 2018Alpine marmots at Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Feb 2, 2019Groundhog Day arrives—beyond a shadow of a doubt
Feb 2, 2020Hut, hut, hike!
Feb 2, 2022Groundhog Day
Feb 2, 2023Groundhog Day
Feb 2, 2024Groundhog Day
Feb 2, 2025Groundhog Day
Feb 2, 2026Groundhog Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 15, 2022Lantern Festival
Apr 1, 2026National Frog Month
Aug 28, 2019Florentine garden brings generations together
Jun 18, 2022International Surfing Day
Sep 30, 2019Wheels up in Beijing
May 27, 2025Mona Vale Rockpool, Sydney, Australia
Sep 3, 2023Skyscraper Day
Dec 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
Apr 8, 2020Santorini through the clouds
Jan 7, 2026Old Rock Day
Nov 16, 2019Mountain mists over Bavaria
May 4, 2020It s Star Wars Day
Dec 19, 2023Castle Square, Old Town, Warsaw, Poland
Oct 24, 2022Diwali lights in Guwahati, India
Jan 30, 2023Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships
Mar 13, 2018Wayag Islands in the Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia
Aug 8, 2022Pantaleu
Sep 4, 2018What the hay?
Jul 17, 2020Let s face it: It s World Emoji Day
Sep 18, 2019Celebrating Chile’s Independence Day
Feb 8, 2026Corfu at night, Greece
May 10, 2025Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota
Mar 12, 2023Lucian Blaga National Theater, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
May 25, 2021An improbable tribute for Towel Day
Apr 27, 2018National Park Week: Yosemite National Park, California
Dec 26, 2025Boxing Day
Nov 8, 2023Manatee Awareness Month
Apr 8, 2018It’s Draw a Bird Day
Jan 15, 2020Harvest season begins
Dec 28, 2024Endangered Species Act