Punxsutawney Phil’s big day

Bob Sloan Editor

rodent’s weather forecast. If Phil sees his shadow that means we should expect six more weeks of winter. No shadow and we can plan for an early spring.

For nearly 150 years, Feb. 2 has been celebrated as Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney. What began as a local observance in 1887 has evolved into a week-long festival that draws on average about 30,000 visitors to a town with 5,800 residents.

For those who might be intrigued to know the long history behind Groundhog Day (its origins go back well beyond

150 years) and the world’s most famous “ground squirrel,” here are some interesting facts:

• The beginning of February marks the halfway point between the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) and the spring equinox (when night and day are about the same length). Pagans would celebrate February 1 or 2 with a festival of light to mark the start of spring. According to Gaelic legend, if the goddess Cailleach wanted a long winter, she’d make the day bright so she’d have sunlight to gather more firewood. But if it was a cloudy or dreary day, she’d stay in because spring was on its way.

• Medieval Christians adapted the festival and handed out candles. This feast day, called Candlemas, falls 40 days after Christmas, marking the end of the period when Jewish tradition would have considered Jesus’ mother unclean after giving birth. She would have been allowed to worship in the temple again, so February 2 is also considered the day that baby Jesus would have been presented there for the first time.

• It was almost known as Badger Day. When the Germans settled in Pennsylvania they had a hard time finding badgers which they traditionally used on Candlemas Day, so they made the switch to the groundhog.

• The first official celebration of Groundhog Day took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1887. A group of businessmen made their way to Gobbler’s Knob and formed the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

• Punxsutawney Phil’s full name is Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.

• The average life span of groundhogs is only 10 years—but fans are adamant that there has been only one Punxsutawney Phil, who is kept alive with a special “groundhog elixir” given to him every summer that lengthens his life for seven more years. There’s no official word on how many groundhogs there have been.

• Phil has a wife named Phyllis and they both live in the town library at Gobbler’s Knob.

• Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction accuracy is actually not very good. He’s been right less that 35 percent of the time.

• Other weather forecasting groundhogs include Staten Island Chuck from New York City, Sir Walter Wally from Raleigh, N.C., General Beauregard Lee from Atlanta, Ga., and Jimmy the Groundhog from Sun Prairie, Wis.

Texas started its tradition in 2010 and uses its state mammal, an armadillo, to predict the weather for Armadillo Day. The armadillo, named Bee Cave Bob, makes his weather prediction at the West Pole in Bee Cave, Texas.

Happy Groundhog Day. Let’s hope Phil doesn’t see his shadow.

Contact Editor Bob Sloan at editor@florence newsjournal.com.