PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – America’s most famous groundhog emerged from his burrow early on Saturday and declared that winter will last another six weeks.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow shortly before 7:30 a.m. to the cheers of more than 30,000 people from as far away as Alaska and Texas, one of the largest crowds in the 122-year history of the event in the central Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney.
It’s a groundhog! What does he know!? Phil wouldn’t have come out of that hole if someone hadn’t yanked him out of there. He’s obviously moved on from this job.
According to the tradition that may have links with the European festival of Candlemas, if the groundhog sees his shadow, it will mean six more weeks of winter. If not, there will be an early spring.
What does it mean if Phil winds up in a stew pot? Just askin’…
(HT: Europeanview)
3 Comments
February 2, 2008 at 3:14 pm
If it’s any consolation, we had our first fire yesterday.
A little early, but then it wasn’t a natural occurrence.
Some idjit tossed a ciggy out the window along the highway and burned about 40 acres of grassland.
The prairie dogs slept right on through it. The range cattle nonchalantly moved off aways and ruminesced.
February 2, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Phil, ya bastard.
February 2, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Groundhog stew does not sound appetizing. Heard the meat is really tough.
And besides, it is approximately six weeks until the first day of Spring.
Raven – hope there aren’t too many fires this year.