The groundhog has spoken. And it's bad news.
The groundhog has spoken. And it's bad news.
Punxsutawney (puhnk-suh-TAW'-nee) Phil has emerged to see his shadow before chilly revelers in Pennsylvania, meaning winter will last another six weeks.
German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.
The Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club annually announces Phil's forecast at dawn on Gobbler's Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Phil's announcement came before hundreds of onlookers who huddled as temperatures hovered in the teens. The Groundhog Club says since 1887 Phil has predicted more winter weather by seeing his shadow nearly 100 times, but there are no records for nine years.
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- Posted on February 2, 2010
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The groundhog seeing his shadow signifies nothing but an old wive's tale. The tradition originated in western countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Tthe official first day of Spring is almost seven weeks (46–48 days) after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or March 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This is exactly six weeks after February 2. The custom could have been a folk embodiment of the confusion created by the collision of two cylindrical systems. Some ancient traditions marked the change of season at cross-quarter days such as Iambic when daylight first makes significant progress against the night. Other traditions held that Spring did not begin until the length of daylight overtook night at the Vernal Equinox. So an arbiter, the groundhog/hedgehog, was incorporated as a yearly custom to settle the two traditions. Sometimes Spring begins at Iambic, and sometimes Winter lasts 6 more weeks until the equinox.The groundhog is by no means a reliable source to the prediction of spring's arrival.
6 more weeks more winter I don't know how long I will last with that. I like winter but I have had enough of winter. It is so cold. go away winter!! please?
I never knew what a groundhog looked liked, it's not very cute. I used think I would always want one, but not now it's slightly ugly but not that ugly ..lol.
No winter needs to be over.It is like 30 below and there gonna make us sit at the bus stop and wait a half in hour.Well that is just cruel and messed up.
I never understood why if the groundhog saw his shadow we'd have 6 weeks of winter and if he didn't than spring would come early. I think Nature does whatever and don't pay much attention to what a groundhog says.
I hope that Punxsutawney Phil predicts another 6 weeks of winter. I think i know why he says 6 weeks of winter because all of the camera flashes. that is why he says 6 more weeks of winter.
I never knew what a groundhog looked liked, it's not very cute. I used think I would always want one, but not now it's slightly ugly
Why would you trust a Groundhog with the weather? How does anybody know this is true? Even if it was, then why would Winter be a bad thing? Whats next, a Camel for the News and a Flamingo for the Sports.
It's kinda funny because any change indicating snow or sleet or rain of hail can make him predict an early spring! I would like to get this whole thing cleared up with the origen of this holiday tradition.
Winter is the best time of the year! Thank you Phil for seeing your shadow. More Christmas means more happiness! Also means more time for Christmas break!!!