Today sees one of the most charming and lighthearted winter traditions once again, Groundhog Day.

The lighthearted holiday candidly predicts how much longer winter will last, and how soon spring will come, all depending on whether or not the furry critter sees its own shadow.

Surprisingly, there are several groundhogs across Canada that are well known, and actually have names. From Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, to Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte.

This year’s Groundhog Day has sparked a bit of a discussion however, as the shadow spotting critters were not in agreement about the coming weather.

Sam saw his shadow and retreated, signalling six more weeks of winter, but Willie and Fred saw no shadow, which means an immanent spring. Alberta’s Balzac Billy (who isn’t a groundhog, but actually a man in a costume) also saw no sign of a shadow.

While many Canadians take a Spring prediction as a boost of morale, especially if they’ve had just about enough of winter, the groundhogs themselves don’t have that great of a track record.

Groundhog Day was first celebrated in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which also has its own famous groundhog in the form of Punxsutawney Phil.