Punxsutawney Phil Predicts An Early Spring: Punxsutawney Phil has made his annual appearance in western Pennsylvania on this Groundhog Day. The tradition marks the 138th year that Phil has predicted whether we'll have an early spring or six more miserable weeks of cold and snow. So what did Phil see? No shadow! That means an early spring is coming! Groundhog-dot-org says Pennsylvania's earliest settlers began celebrating Groundhog Day in the 1800s.
So...
GROUNDHOG DAY: An Early Spring is on the Way
The country's most famous groundhog crawled out of his hole in chilly Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at daybreak today and, for the 138th time, gave his long-term weather prediction.
Punxsutawney Phil announced, in his own language, that he did not see his shadow and predicted an early spring. Had he seen his shadow, his prediction would have called for six more weeks of winter. This is only the 21st time in Phil's history that he did not see his shadow.
Below is the big moment when the Punxsutawney official made the big announcement!
Wonder where the Groundhog Day tradition started? Apparently, it goes back to a Christian holiday called Candlemas Day. On this day, clergy members would give out candles to help people through the remaining winter days. If that day happened to be clear and sunny, it meant winter might drag on. If the weather was cloudy, spring was on its way. When the Germans settled in Pennsylvania, the Candlemas Day folklore expanded to include finding a hedgehog to see how he reacted on this day in regards to the weather.
Also, did you know Phil has a wife? Her name is Phyllis and they hibernate together every year.