America’s favorite groundhog emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania on the snowy morning of Tuesday, February 2nd, to keep the classic Groundhog’s Day tradition alive. This year marked the holiday’s 135th anniversary.
Punxsutawney Phil was awakened around 7:25 a.m. by his handler to check if he would see his shadow or not. The legend goes, if it’s a sunny day and Phil sees his shadow, it’s a signal for six more weeks of winter. If it’s a cloudy day and he doesn’t, spring comes early.
There are usually thousands in attendance, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was held virtually this year. Filming live from Gobbler’s Knob, a small hill 65 miles Northeast of Pittsburgh, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club reached over 180,000 viewers on its online live stream. Before the big moment, the stream featured celebrity cameos and celebrations from previous years.
Just as dawn broke, Phil’s inner circle, complete with top hats and face masks, gathered around the groundhog on its perch with full attention.
“Yeah! Six more weeks of winter.”
Four-year-old CCHS Littlest Cowboy Aiden Abe
“The groundhog went out of the nest. It went in the nest,” four-year-old CCHS Littlest Cowboy Aiden Abe said. “Yeah! Six more weeks of winter.”
Making his forecast as a major snowstorm rattles the Northeast, it was no surprise that the furry critter did see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of snow.
“[I made a craft],” four-year-old CCHS Littlest Cowboy Landon Yeun said. “It was kind of brown. Phil saw his shadow. It’s cold.”
Living in the state with the mildest winters, South Floridians don’t have much to worry about, except maybe wearing a few more long sleeves into late February. At the end of the day, many are just pleased with keeping the wholesome tradition alive.
“Phil saw his shadow. It’s cold.”
Four-year-old CCHS Littlest Cowboy Landon Yeun
“It is a beautiful morning, this I can see, with all my fans viewing virtually,” began the groundhog’s prediction. “With my faithful followers being safe and secure, our tradition of Groundhog Day must endure. We all have passed through the darkness of night, but now see hope of morning’s bright light. When I turn to see, there is a perfect shadow cast of me. Six more weeks of winter there will be!”
Photo courtesy of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club
