Keeping with tradition, the nation turned its eye to Punxsutawney, PA, today to see whether Punxsutawney Phil, emerging from his underground home, would see his shadow and retreat, thus signaling six more weeks of winter. And indeed that’s what happened.

The annual holiday finds its origin in German folklore, in which a badger or a bear would predict the meteorological future. Immigrants brought it over to America, and the U.S. has been participating in Groundhog Day since the 18th century.

The nation took notice in 1887, thus catapulting Phil’s career as an international icon. Introspective and crippled by stage fright, Phil had no comment.