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Pennsylvania celebrates Groundhog Day (again)

By T.K. Randall
February 2, 2019 · Comment icon 26 comments

The ceremony has been held every year for over a century. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 Anthony Quintano
World-famous groundhog Punxsatawney Phil emerged from his hole in front of crowds of onlookers earlier today.
Despite its unusual premise, the Groundhog Day ceremony, which was heavily featured in the 1993 Bill Murray movie of the same name, is in fact a very real event that continues to be celebrated at the beginning of February each year in Pennsylvania.

Its titular star - Punxsatawney Phil - has been emerging from his hole on Gobbler's Knob every year for 133 years to reveal whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter.

According to tradition, if Phil does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
This year's ceremony, which saw a crowd of thousands gather for the groundhog's appearance, was no exception as he was lifted in to the air by the president of the Punxsatawney Groundhog Club.

"Down in my burrow on long winter nights, I listen to tunes to keep my mind right, from Motown to country, to rap, even Bach, there's Aretha and Elvis, yeah The Beatles rock."

"The cheers at the Knob really give me a thrill, everyone singing to the world 'Phil, Phil, Phil'."

"But predicting the weather, that's my song, for 133 years I've never been wrong.So, is it early spring or more winter forecast? Stop the music, here is my forecast:"

"Faithful followers, there is no shadow of me - a beautiful spring it shall be!"


Source: Sky News | Comments (26)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #17 Posted by and then 6 years ago
Touche!  Have fun and be safe.  Cabs are one hell of a lot less expensive than the alternatives.  I speak from experience  
Comment icon #18 Posted by Vlad the Mighty 6 years ago
Rather like the Irish method of weather forecasting. If you can see the hills, it'll rain soon. If you can't see them, it's already raining.     
Comment icon #19 Posted by Vlad the Mighty 6 years ago
the look on his adorable little face says it all. "Put me back right now, or that hand, gloved as it is, will feel the consequences."   
Comment icon #20 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
Got him a holiday and a movie! Goes back to the mid 1800's. 
Comment icon #21 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
Actually that little groundhog is well taken care of for it's natural life. 
Comment icon #22 Posted by skliss 6 years ago
My friend went to IUP Punxatawney...the whole thing is an excuse for drunken revelry, not that you need much of an excuse in college. When she went there Phil and his wife Phyllis lived the rest of the year in the Library according to her.
Comment icon #23 Posted by susieice 6 years ago
Yes. Phil and Phyllis still live there. In an indoor attachment though they go out on occasion. They are really quite pampered. lol They're fed like royalty and love corn on the cob. https://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2017/02/groundhog_phil_do_rest_of_year.html
Comment icon #24 Posted by trevor borocz johnson 6 years ago
I think they do it to make light of things that can't be explained. Maybe the invention of the holiday in 1887 was to mark a time when they were able to start predicting the weather, and they were poking fun of old traditions. Predicting stuff using methods that are unexplained like dreams of storms, and prophecy has a history of being dangerous for those who prophecy I believe, so maybe its help for those people, to shake off the evil that follows them through the darkness.
Comment icon #25 Posted by Princess Serenity 6 years ago
This animal better be right!
Comment icon #26 Posted by paperdyer 6 years ago
Most traditions become idiotic to people eventually.  It's just a fun holiday.  An excuse to take a day off from work and school and eat and drink all day. Also helps the local economy with the influx of tourists.


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