6 More Weeks of Winter !

Groundhog Day is an American tradition to predict the end of Winter.  On February 2, 2012 Phil came out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob – in front of thousands of followers from all over the world – to predict the weather for the rest of winter.

February 2, 2012 was Punxsutawney Phil’s 126th prognostication and he saw his shadow. Phil’s predictions are correct 100% of the time, of course!  There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil who has been making predictions for over 125 years.

File Photo groundhog.org

He gets his longevity from drinking the “elixir of life,” a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.

File photo groundhog.org

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

File photo Groundhog.org

Phil then speaks to the Groundhog Club president in “Groundhogese”(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.

File photo groundhog.org

The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, “For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May…” For more info visit Phils official website

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887.  So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br’er Groundhog.   Click here to watch Groundhogs Day predication unfold.