An annual tradition continued as thousands of people gathered for the 140th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This year on February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his tree stump to see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. Phil saw his shadow at 7:25 AM in -3º temperature under a crisp and clear sky. Along with the dignitaries on stage, for the event, was the guest of honor this year was United States Senator Dave McCormick, the first sitting senator to attend the festivities.
The Groundhog was chosen as an indicator of spring’s arrival to indicate the arrival of spring to coincide with European lore. In ancient Europe, people would observe hibernating animals, like a bear or badger, to foretell the arrival of spring, according to the National Weather Service. Upon settling in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, German immigrants brought their Candlemas traditions. For centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. It marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important. The Germans used animals to predict the weather. Since no badgers were found in Pennsylvania, they used groundhogs native to the area to do the prognosticating.
Clymer Freas, the editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper, is credited with starting the holiday on Feb. 2, 1886, he wrote an article in the Punxsutawney Spirit that claimed the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil could forecast the weather. Phil’s fame began to spread as newspapers around the world began reporting on his weather predictions.
The first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney occurred on Feb. 2, 1887, where the groundhog saw his shadow. Phil’s weather predictions have exploded in popularity, particularly after the 1993 film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray.
This year, Phil picked one of two scrolls confirming the extended winter prognostication. The ceremony is very simple, “If the sun is shining and Phil sees his shadow, he takes that as “an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole,” according to the event organizers, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. If it’s cloudy and Phil doesn’t see his shadow, he will stay above ground, signifying there will be an early spring.
Last year, Phil also predicted six more weeks of winter, which is typically his assessment: Since 2000, he’s seen his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter 20 times.
The National Weather Service compared their record with Phils with national temperatures over the prior decade and concluded he was right only 40% of the time. The longest period of 6 more weeks of winter weather was from 1903 til1933.
