The cold and snowy weather may be coming to an end soon, at least according to the region’s fluffiest weather forecast.
Groundhog-predicting Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow when he was suddenly roused from his slumber at Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday.
If he sees it, it will mark six more weeks of winter, according to a world-renowned 132-year-old tradition.
Don’t get out of the bathing suit just yet, though — Phil has only been right about 40% of the time over the past 100 years.
In fact, over the past decade, wannabe meteorologists have been right only three times – in 2014, 2016 and 2020, according to the National Center for Environmental Information.
Yet Phil’s inaccurate predictions don’t stop loyal fans from flocking to Gobbler’s Knob every year, with more than 20,000 people flocking each year to catch a glimpse of the furry forecast.
Punxsutawney Phil, seen here on the previous Groundhog Day, failed to see his shadow — meaning early spring is here. Reuters
The annual ritual dates back to 1887, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
It has its origins in the February 2 holiday of Candlemas in Europe, where Christians would bring candles to church to be blessed.
A popular English folk song declares that winter will have “another flight” if things are fair and bright at Candlemas.
The song’s interpretation of the holiday was accepted in most of Europe until it reached Germany, where the hedgehog became part of the tradition, and a “second winter” would be expected if the animal saw its shadow at Candlemas.
“When German settlers came to what is now the United States, so did their traditions and folklore,” organizer Punxsutawney said on its website. “With the absence of hedgehogs in the United States, similar hibernating animals were selected.”
Phil, seen in the previous event, is once again awakened from his winter slumber for the annual ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob. Reuters
Mention of Groundhog Day first appeared in the local Punxsutawney newspaper in 1886. The following year marked the first official event at Gobbler’s Knob, organizers said.
Now, more than 20,000 adoring fans gather annually on the site to catch a glimpse of the Weather Prophet Extraordinaire as he makes his annual predictions.
“Today, Groundhog Day remains as it was when the tradition first came to our shores and found its way to Punxsutawney,” the group’s website says. “A day to take everything less seriously, and break the winter doldrums … at least for a while!”’
The annual tradition of Groundhog Day began in 1887. Reuters Phil’s big prediction draws about 20,000 people to Punxsutawney each year, as seen here last year. Reuters
But Phil and New York’s Staten Island Chuck aren’t the only critters predicting this year.
In Oregon, zookeepers are going back to the holiday’s origins and using hedgehogs, while residents in Texas are taking their weather advice from Bob the Armadillo.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
