Why Does A Groundhog Control The Weather?
We gather by the thousands to welcome a 135-year-old groundhog out of his hole. SHARE ON:
Punxsutawney Phil is, without a doubt, the most famous groundhog around. This 135-year-old woodland critter is responsible for telling the world whether or not we will endure six more weeks of winter or if we are in for an early spring.
Phil crawls out of his hole, every February 2nd, and onto quite an elaborate stage to greet thousands of loving fans with his predictions about the season to come. If he sees his shadow, that essentially means we shouldn’t put our mittens away quite yet winter is sticking around a bit longer. If he doesn’t see his shadow, spring is well on its way!
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If the forecast for cloudy conditions persists, then Phil would probably not see his shadow this year.
On average, Phil has gotten it right 40% of the time over the past 10 years.
Groundhog Day s origins lie in the ancient European celebration of Candlemas.
It s that time of year . again.
Punxsutawney Phil, the world s most famous groundhog, will be coaxed from his burrow in western Pennsylvania early Tuesday as a pandemic-stressed nation watches to find out whether we ll have an early spring or six more weeks of cold and snow.
According to legend, if it s sunny and Phil sees his shadow, the scared groundhog returns to his burrow and the U.S. will endure six more weeks of winter. But if it s cloudy when the groundhog emerges on Feb. 2, the critter won t see his shadow and will leave his burrow, meaning winter will soon end and an early start to spring is coming.
Courtesy of Jeffrey Lundy
Sam Light and Phil, Punxsutawney’s famous groundhog.
Soon after becoming president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in 1952, Sam Light decided he would give the day some added flair by wearing a top hat and tails when he pulled the town’s famed groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, from a tree stump shortly before 7:30 a.m. to determine if he could see his shadow. If he could not, it meant an early spring. If he could, it meant six more weeks of winter.
“In those days, celebrities and other important people would arrive in New York aboard ocean liners, and there to greet the ships was Grover Whalen [chairman of the Mayor’s Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests],” recalled Light’s widow, Elaine. “He wore a tall hat and tails. Sam adopted that costume to greet the groundhog because he said he, too, was a very important person.”
Groundhog Day 2021-Phil vs Phil
Once again it s the battle of the Phil s on Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil will have the backing of those at Gobbler s Knob while here in Sioux Falls we put our trust in Phil Schreck to determine if we see six more weeks of winter.
The countdown is on and the events leading up to the big day have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has determined that there will not be any in-person attendance or guests on the grounds as the potential COVID risks to overcome are too great.