An old American tradition, known as Groundhog Day, is used to predict whether and early spring will come or if there will be 6 more weeks of winter. According to wikipedia:
Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grundsaudaag, Murmeltiertag) is a day celebrated on February 2. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.[1]The groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil, did not see its shadow, so an early spring is predicted.
http://www.freep.com/article/20130202/FEATURES01/130202004/Groundhog-Day-What-will-Phil-forecast-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
It is also interesting to note the Celtic holiday of Imbolc (stirring of spring) was yesterday.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc
