By OLIVER RICE

Not only is it a classic film featuring Bill Murray, it is one of Pennsylvania’s most well known traditions, happening every February 2.

On Saturday, Punxsutawney Phil predicted a rare early Spring. Not seeing his shadow has only happened 19 times in the 133 years Groundhog Day has been at Gobbler’s Knob.

Stormfax.com writes that Groundhog Day has its roots in Imbolc, or Candlemas Day, which is a pagan celebration brought to Pennsylvania by German settlers in the early 1700s.

The premise of Imbolc was that it occured halfway through winter and spring. Tradition said that is the weather for that day was fair and clear, then winter would continue for a few more weeks; however, if the weather was dreary and cloudy, then winter would end soon after. There are various sayings from across Europe and America that will tell you the same thing.

Because of the clear weather, an animal would cast a shadow, thus predicting another few weeks of winter. The reason a groundhog was chosen is pretty simple, Germans used to watch badgers and a replacement was needed.

Stormfax.com also reports that the first official celebration of Groundhog Day was on February 2 in 1886 where no shadow was seen. Punxsutawney Phil then moved to Gobbler’s Knob the following year where every show has been since.

Since the release of the movie Groundhog Day, attendance to the actual event has increased. In 1997, Gobbler’s Knob saw 35,000 visitors come in to see Phil, according to Mentalfloss.com.

The Groundhog Day spirit is so prevalent in Punxsutawney today that there are many giant statues of Phil around the town, all painted differently.

According to town legend, there has only ever been one Punxsutawney Phil since 1887 when he made his first presence at Gobbler’s Knob. The way that he is able to look so young at his age is a special brew of “groundhog punch,” which he has annually at a picnic in the summer.

It’s because of his love for his “groundhog punch” that we all know how fiercely anti-probation he is. He notably threatened to plunge the country into over a year of winter if he was kept from drinking alcohol, as written by Mentalfloss.com

Guess you could thank Phil for the 21st Amendment.