It's Groundhog Day! What Did Phil See?

A groundhog (=marmota) is a small animal that digs and lives under the ground. It is also called the woodchuck. Groundhogs live in many parts of America. In the winter they hibernate like bears and some other animals.

There is a legend that says a few hundred years ago Europeans brought Groundhog Day to America. They said that the ground og wakes up from his hibernation on February 2. (February 2 is half way between winter and spring.) If he comes up from his hole and it is sunny, he will see his shadow and be frightened. If he sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter weather. But if he comes up and the sky is cloudy, he will not see his shadow and will not be frightened. Then spring weather will come very soon.

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2011, at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, PA:

Here Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Groundhog Day, February 2, 2011

Punxsutawney Phil was raised from his burrow

By the call of President Bill Deeley.

He greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting an inquisitive eye towards thousands of his faithful followers,

He proclaimed that the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl!

Back to the business at hand...

He surveyed his surroundings carefully and found that there was no shadow around,

So, an early spring it will be./

Groundhog Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

The world's most famous groundhog has seen his shadow which, legend has it, means we can expect six more weeks of winter.

February 2, 2010

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PENNSYLVANIA

~ Phil's Official Forecast ~
"If you want to know next,
you must read my text,
as the sky shines bright above me,
my shadow I see beside me,
6 more weeks of winter it will be."

Phil Says Six More Weeks!

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2009 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Let's hear from the Seer of Seers, Punxsutawney Phil.

Hear Ye Hear Ye Hear Ye

On Gobbler's Knob on this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2009 Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, awoke to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed, that his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers were World Champions one more time. And as he looked a bright sky above me showed my shadow beside me, so six more weeks of winter it will be. Woe is us, woe is us!

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is February 2nd. It is said that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of bad weather, and if he doesn't, that spring will be here soon.