Punxsutawney, PA — It’s official! Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow which means – six more weeks of winter.
Punxsutawney Phil’s official proclamation read:
“Up early this morning
Far from home
Are you searching for
the Phil-osopher’s stone? Well, even my best friends
They don’t know.
Is it an early spring
Or just more snow My faithful followers,
your hands (and my paws) are getting cold
So here is my forecast
Not lead, but solid gold:I see my royal Shadow!
Six more weeks of Winter to go!”
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It’s time again for Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary to make his annual prediction.
As legend has it, Phil will wake from hibernation on February 2 and if he sees his shadow as he emerges from his burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If our furry friend doesn’t see his shadow, spring will arrive soon.
Beginning Friday at 6:00 a.m., you can watch all the festivities from Gobbler’s Knob with the Visit PA live stream right here and on the WNEP Facebook Page.
Phil is expected to make his prognostication around 7:20 a.m..
Here’s a look at what you need to know about Groundhog Day, an American tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive.
Facts:
February 2 is Groundhog Day.
The groundhog wakes up from hibernation on February 2.
If the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter.
If it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive soon.
This tradition started in Europe as Candlemas Day. Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s brought the custom to America.
Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil is the most well-known, but more than a dozen states celebrate with their own groundhogs, such as Georgia’s Gen. Beauregard Lee and Buckeye Chuck in Ohio.
Punxsutawney Phil – in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania:
His full name is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.”
February 2, 1886 – The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper proclaims this date as Pennsylvania’s first official Groundhog Day celebration.
Phil has correctly predicted the beginning of spring 100% of the time, according to his owners. However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the groundhog shows “no predictive skill” for the last few years.
1986 – Phil travels to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Ronald Reagan.
1993 – Columbia Pictures releases the movie, “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. In the years following the release of the movie, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney.
1995 – Phil appears on the Oprah Winfrey show.
January 27, 2010 – The animal rights group PETA suggests using a robotic groundhog in place of Punxsutawney Phil.
February 2, 2010 – For the first time, fans are able to register for a text message alert of Phil’s prediction.
February 2, 2017 – Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
