Seasons? What seasons? Here in perpetually warm and sunny San Diego, folks have no need for such things. Temperatures in the low 60s constitute bitter cold, and people have been seen walking downtown wearing leather coats, scarves and gloves --- when it’s about 70.

By the way, this tidbit has been unearthed by empirical research. However, in other parts of the country, the Midwest and northeast in particular, residents have annually grown tired of wintry conditions by now, and this year is no exception.

They are looking for some hopeful signs of relief, which is where Groundhog Day comes in. This annual celebration - which often falls under the radar but remains a wildly popular holiday - takes place on February 2 throughout the United States and Canada.

The biggest and most popular Groundhog Day fete takes place in Punxsutawney, a central Pennsylvania city some 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, which also includes food, speeches and entertainment.

Thousands of people (crowds of 40,000 have been known to turn out) will be on hand to await the appearance of Punxsutawney Phil, the rock star of all groundhogs. The story goes that if it’s cloudy when the groundhog surfaces from its burrow and the groundhog leaves its burrow, warmer weather is ahead. But if the ‘hog sees its shadow (supposedly made possible by sunny weather) and returns to the burrow, winter weather will continue for six more weeks.

Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring last year, and he had plenty of company from groundhogs all over the place. Gus (Athens, GA), Staten Island Chuck (Staten Island, NY), Poor Richard (York, PA) and Sir Walter Wally (Raleigh, NC) were just a few of the groundhogs who left their burrows. Phil predicted six more weeks of winter in 2010.

Among the groundhogs that predicted the above last year were Balzac Billy (Balzac, Alberta, Canada), Dover Doug (Dover, PA), Smith Lake Jake (Graysville, AL) and Chuckles (Manchester, CT).

The Groundhog Day is similar to Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe. The custom where the clergy blessed candles and handed them out to people went on for centuries, marking a significant weather moment. ‘Hog day is also similar to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, marking a season change in the Celtic calendar. This is celebrated on February 1, with weather prediction being part of the scene.

Groundhog Day celebrations began in the southeastern and central portions of Pennsylvania, which was largely settled by Germans, who brought their old-world celebration to the United States. Punxsutawney has been holding Groundhog celebrations since at least 1886. The Germans found there were plenty of groundhogs living in those parts of Pennsylvania.

The groundhog was picked as a symbol of the holiday because it was a worthy substitute for the European hedgehog. Just so you know, the groundhog is a rodent of the family of Sciurdae, which belongs to the group of large ground squirrels.

The groundhog is so popular a figure that it’s enjoyed holiday celebrity status in various times. The Silly Symphonies short film “Winter,” released in 1930, featured Mr. Groundhog the Weather Prophet coming out of his burrow to the check things out. He eventually retreats to his hole, meaning more winter.

In 1941, a Woody Woodpecker cartoon short called “Pantry Panic”, humorously stars a groundhog as a weather forecaster. Curiously, he predicts the beginning of winter, not the end of it.

Then there was the 1979 Christmas television special “Jack Frost,” with comedian Buddy Hackett as voice of the groundhog narrating the movie.

Most notable was the 1993 comedy movie Groundhog Day. Taking place in Punxsutawney (though most of the filming occurred elsewhere), Bill Murray plays the main character, a weatherman who is assigned to cover the day from a groundhog hole. He eventually must relive the day over and over until he quits being selfish and becomes a better person.

In other actions honoring the groundhog, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office has issued a couple of film series promoting Groundhog Day. And in Wiarton, Ontario, Canada, about 150 miles northwest of Toronto, townsfolk have built a statue of the local groundhog, Wiarton Willie.

San Diego is hardly a haven for groundhog celebrations, but one truly notable event for a terrific cause takes place on Feb. 2, starting at 9 pm. Tin Can Alehouse, at 1863 5th Ave in Bankers Hill. The “Rock for a Cause on Groundhog Day” is a charity event benefiting Invisible Children. This night of Rock ‘n Roll carries a cover of just $5. For information, call (619) 955-8525 or log on to invisiblechildren.com

Also, the San Diego Urban Land Institute (ULI) Young Leaders Group is celebrating Groundhog Day in a different way. On Feb. 9, the San Diego YLG will meet with representatives from Centre City Development, Southeastern Economic Development Corporation, the Chargers and other groups to discuss redevelopment issues. It’s billed “The Young Leaders Groundhog Day Event.’’ The talk is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at ReproHaus, 1400 L St. Call 1-800-321-5011 for more information.

Meanwhile, those who want to commemorate Groundhog Day in a more traditional way around here will have to settle for the land where winter never really surfaces.

UPDATE:Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his den to "see" his shadow on Thursday (Feb. 2) and in the process predicted six more weeks of winter weather.