Here's something fun for you. Nantucket doesn’t rely on a groundhog to predict the arrival of spring.

Instead, the island turns to a very different kind of shell-dweller: a quahog named Quentin.

Every year on February 2, while the rest of the country watches Punxsutawney Phil pop out of his burrow, Nantucket residents gather at the Brant Point Shellfish Hatchery for a much saltier tradition.

According to the Nantucket Current, Quentin the Quahog is cracked open alive, and the way his juices squirt determines whether winter will stick around or if spring is on the way.

This year, Quentin completely contradicted Phil’s forecast.

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While Phil saw his shadow and declared six more weeks of winter, Quentin’s spray suggested an early spring.

The tradition, which dates back to 1980, is a bit more intense than a groundhog simply reacting to its own shadow. It’s also, let’s be honest, much tastier – because Quentin’s job doesn’t end with his prediction.

As is customary, after delivering the much-anticipated forecast, Quentin met his fate at the hands (and stomach) of Joe Minella, a technician at Brant Point. Call it an ultimate sacrifice for the good of the island, or just a really weird excuse for a seafood snack, but it’s all in good fun and no quahogs were wasted during this annual local tradition.

Of course, neither Phil nor Quentin is scientifically reliable; if you want accuracy, you might be better off checking the Farmer’s Almanac or simply paying close attention to your local meteorologist or weather channel.

For Nantucket, however, Quentin’s squirting forecast remains a cherished (and delicious) local tradition.

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