When you look at the modern Wheel of the Year in paganism, February 2nd marks an important day in the calendar as far as planting and gardening. In the Celtic tradition it's called Imbolic. The holiday focuses on Bridgid and her eternal flame. It's a time of year when fireplaces are cleaned and lit to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. When the Germans came over to Pennsylvania, this was the time of year when they began looking to the first animals that came out of hibernation to see whether or not better weather would come earlier or later. In Germany this was the badger. In the states it's the groundhog. Now, a pretty popular holiday and movie there is a pagan root in the holiday and it is one that I actually engage in.I don't do all the holidays on the wheel but this one is one of my favorites. For one, it focuses on Frau Holda/ Holle who I have honored , in some way , for 15 years. And two, it's a nice break in the dullness of winter what's right now is even more overbearing because of the awful weather. It's basically marked, for me, with a meal and offerings. One year I actually went so far to make a butzemann, a large poppet you make to serve as a helper on your farm that contains a land spirit. My neighbor has a groundhog under his shed, so I often at this time of year , begin looking for her to come out and start rooting around. Considering the weather right now, I doubt they'll be coming out anytime soon.But once you see them , you know that the weather we'll be staying good enough that they're eating and not continuing to hibernate.