It's Groundhog Day...Hooray!
Each year at dawn on February 2, crowds of tourists, locals and journalists gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to watch as the world-famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow... or not. Legend has it, if Phil does see his shadow, six more weeks of winter will to follow. If the hog sees no shadow, then spring is on the way!
This year, Phil did indeed see his shadow. Phil's official forecast, projected at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob reads:
"It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Around the country there are many imitators of me.
In Harrisburg there is Gus who appears on TV working for the lottery.
Then all around town, Cute groundhog statues abound.
They all look like me, I found.
Today on the Knob as I'm doing my job, I don't like this likeness of me.
It's my shadow I see. Six more weeks of mild winter there will be."
If little Phil is correct, United States residents can prepare for six more wintery weeks.
Interestingly enough, Groundhog Day originated in Europe. The Christian holiday was called Candlemas. The legendary animal of Candlemas was a hedgehog, however. The Pilgrims brought the tradition to America and used a groundhog for lack of hedgehogs in the area. The holiday evolved to what we now know as Groundhog Day, observed each year at dawn on February 2nd.