Groundhog Phil Predicts an Early Spring

In modern times, the occasion sees thousands of people descend on the Jefferson County town to catch a glimpse of the pet forecaster.

Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow Tuesday morning, thus his prediction means an early spring.

Can the chorus say, “Yaay!?”

It’s doubtful many Americans actually take the weather forecasts of a rodent seriously. If the weather was bad at the time, winter would end- signaling the beginning of spring-like weather. If one of these varmints sees his shadow, that is supposed to mean six more weeks of winter.

“Hello! Breathe easy. I’m on my job!”

Traditionally, the city’s mayor attends the festivities at the Staten Island Zoo and reveals whether or not Chuck sees his shadow.

A crowd gathered at Gobbler’s Knob early this morning, awaiting the emergence of the groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil. After a tap of a cane on Phil’s tree-trunk cage, his door was opened, and the animal emerged.

“There is no shadow to be cast!”, announced Jeff Lundy, vice president of the Inner Circle of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club (via AP).

How accurate is Phil’s prediction? But the ceremony was canceled for today, because the groundhog died.

No, we’re not talking about the Iowa caucuses (although that’s finally official for the Democrats). There are no records for the remaining years.

Of course, the actual Groundhog Day – the day we anxiously wait for a groundhog to pop his little head out of the ground on February 2nd to predict the weather – began in the United States among the Pennsylvania Dutch communities in the mid 19th century.

Historic origins of Groundhog Day probably rest in early European folklore, which associate the date with a seasonal turning of the weather.