Chaosivity: 11 Things you didn't (need to) know about Groundhog Day

February 2nd is a day when grown men don their top hats and show off captive groundhogs "Pride Rock" style to predict the coming six week weather forecast. But it may surprise you to know that this non-holiday has its roots in both Christianity and Pagan culture. Here are at least ten bits of Groundhog Day trivia you could have done without knowing for the rest of your life.

1. Groundhog Day is the 'merican bastard child of European folklore surrounding weather prognosticating badgers.

I vote to bring back the badgers and let hilarity ensue!

2. The date February 2nd is actually the Catholic festival of Candlemass, 40 days after Christmas, brought to the US by German immigrants.

3. "Punxsutawney Phil" is a character birthed by a Pennsylvania Newspaper man in 1887 in Gobbler's Knob. It now draws crowds of up to 40000 to celebrate- the largest G-hog crowd in the world.

4. The Groundhog Day report has a 75-90% accuracy record- although USA Today reports 13 wrong/15 right since 1988.

5. Jour de la Marmotte is the French Canadian term for Groundhog Day.

6. In New Orleans, a copyu named T-boy predicts the arrival of Spring. Other notable rodents of February include Gen. Bearegard Lee of Georgia and 'Pothole Pete' of New York City.

7. In 2009, an uncooperative groundhog named Staten Island Chuck bit New York's Mayor Bloomberg and drew blood during the celebration.

8. In 2010, the new mayor of New York dropped Chuck, who died 7 days later. (The 2010 Chuck was actually the granddaughter of the Chuck involved in the mayoral nibbling incident).

Texas mayor bitten 2015- don't mess with Texas

9. Inexplicably, it has been claimed that there has only ever been one Punxsauawney Phil- which makes him more than 130 years old. Non-famous groundhogs only live about 8-9 years on average.