Despite the unseasonable heat wave warming up cities across the country, the most highly esteemed weather man in America has predicted six more weeks of winter.

After cautiously emerging from his hole on Thursday in front of hundreds of eager eyes and flashing photographers, Punxsutawney Phil, of Pennsylvania, cast a shadow, promising a dramatic reversal in the mild temperatures that have been 20 to 30 degrees higher than normal in many areas.

Known as Groundhog Day, the marmot has been making weather predictions every February 2 since 1887, but many avid followers don’t know the details behind the bizarre tradition beyond what they learned in the Bill Murray comedy classic of the same name, so RadarOnline.com has compiled seven essentials everyone should know about the furry critter’s national holiday.