Groundhog Day Info
(Source: www.groundhog.org)
The 126th trek to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for Punxsutawney Phil’s official prognostication begins early this morning with live entertainment, fireworks and other activities. Phil’s official prediction will be at daybreak. The men who call themselves the “Inner Circle” say Phil speaks to them in “groundhogese,” and they translate the rodent’s words. Here are some fun facts from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s official website:
History of Groundhog Day:
Punxsutawney Phil’s first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was in 1887. In early observances, the groundhog’s predictions were conducted in private wooded areas that neighbor the town. Presently, Phil makes his prediction in front of tens of thousands of visitors and a global audience. Members of the Inner Circle coax Phil from his hole and announce Phil’s prediction. If Phil sees his shadow, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of winter and returns to his hole; if not, spring is just around the corner.
European Roots:
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Early Christians celebrated Candlemas Day, when the clergy
blessed and distributed candles. Roman legions, during the conquest of
the northern country, brought the tradition to the Germans, who picked
it up and concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day
an animal (the hedgehog) would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more
weeks of bad weather.
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Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers were Germans who found
groundhogs in many parts of the state. They determined that the
groundhog, which resembled the hedgehog, was an intelligent animal and
decided that if the sun appeared on February 2nd, the groundhog would
see its shadow and hurry back into its underground home for another six
weeks of winter.
Phamous Punxsutawney Phil Phacts:
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During Prohibition, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter if he wasn’t permitted a cocktail.
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Phil announced that it was a “United States Chucknik,” rather
than a Soviet Sputnik or Muttnik, that became the first man-made
satellite to orbit Earth in 1958.
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Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran in 1981.
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Phil traveled to Washington, D.C. in 1986 to meet with President Reagan.
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In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie “Groundhog Day,”
starring Bill Murray. Since then, record crowds numbering as high as
30,000 have visited Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney!
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Phil made his debut performance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1995.
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In 2001, Phil’s prediction was shown live on the JumboTron at Times Square in New York City.
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Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell attended Groundhog Day ceremonies in 2003, making him the first sitting governor ever to do so.
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Phil is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan; he sported a Terrible Towel in 2009 to celebrate the team’s Sixth Super Bowl victory.
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Punxsutawney Phil’s full name is actually “Punxsutawney Phil,
Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and
Weather Prophet Extraordinaire.” It was proclaimed by the “Punxsutawney
Groundhog Club” in 1887, the same year they declared Punxsutawney to be
the weather capital of the world.
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A groundhog’s life span is normally 6 to 8 years. Phil receives
a drink of a magical punch every summer during the annual Groundhog
Picnic, which gives him 7 more years of life.
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Legend has it that Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br’er Groundhog.
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Since Phil’s first trek to Gobbler’s Knob in 1887, he has seen
his shadow 99 times, no shadow 16 times, and no record 10 times. He did
not see his shadow last year.
- If you can’t be there to celebrate with Phil, there will be live video on www.visitpa.com/GroundHog
