Philthe famous rodent meteorologist Punxsutawneyin Pennsylvania, emerged this Friday from the cave where it was hibernating. He did not see his shadow and predicted that Americans would have an early spring.
Hundreds of revelers gathered on the hill before dawn Gobbler’s Knobcheered and applauded as participants in the ritual at 07:22 a.m. (12:22 GMT) read out the message that had supposedly chosen Phil. “Without a doubt spring will come early”said one of the Groundhog Club members, interpreting the animal’s grunts, which seemed surprised and confused.
This is the tradition of Groundhog Day
This has been the case since the tradition began in 1887 It’s only the twentieth time the groundhog hasn’t seen his shadow. According to legend, winter is six weeks away when there is enough sunlight for the animal to see its shadow. Although the tradition remains strong, the success rate of Phil’s predictions is 36%, according to the Stormfax Almanac.
Accordingly Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the marmot saw its shadow 107 times, it did not see it 20 times, and for about 10 years at the end of the 19th century there is no data. In 1942, Phil only partially saw his shadow and the following year he did not leave hiding. Between 2013 and 2023, the groundhog predicted six additional weeks of winter seven times, and only once was it correct.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, which claims it is the same animal that has been making predictions for 130 years, thanks to a “Elixir of Life”claims that Phil has a 100% accurate record.
The origin and meaning of Groundhog Day
The celebration in Punxsutawney dates back to Initiative of a group of hunters who adopted the rodent as a pet for a ritual every February 2 about 70 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
The ritual has pagan roots They attribute supernatural powers to animals between the winter equinox and the spring solstice.
The date coincides with the Christian calendar Light measurement in which believers believe that a clear sky heralds a longer winter and a cloudy day heralds the near end of winter.
Phil isn’t the only meteorologist groundhog, but he is the most famous. Other places in North America have their own:
- Gen. Beau Lee (Atlanta).
- Wiarton Willie (Ontario, Canada).
- Sir Walter Wally (Raleigh, North Carolina).
- Jimmy (Wisconsin).
- Chuck (New York).
- Birmingham Bill (Birmingham, Alabama).
- Potomac Phil, a stuffed groundhog, in Washington DC.