Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predicts Early Spring

Get ready for warmer weather! Punxsutawney Phil made his annual appearance on Groundhog Day and predicted that the United States would not see another six weeks of winter.

Thousands gathered at Gobbler’s Knob, located in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, early Friday morning to see if the iconic groundhog would see his shadow. This year’s ceremony marked the 138th Groundhog Day celebration.

Groundhog Day consists of Punxsutawney Phil making a public appearance at Gobbler’s Knob, during which it is predicted that a longer winter can be expected if Phil sees his shadow. Traditionally, Phil will not see his shadow if the weather is cloudy, thus blocking the sun and preventing shadows from being created.

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The history of the holiday goes back to 1887, with the groundhog predicting an extended winter over 100 times since the holiday’s inception, including last year. In February last year, Punxsutawney Phil’s name was inducted as the final member of the Weather Discovery Center’s Meteorologist Hall of Fame.

Last month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as the animal advocacy group PETA, sent a letter to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President Tom Dunkel to offer a large gold coin to be used instead of the iconic groundhog. The group also suggested that the holiday be renamed to get rid of any association with the groundhog and “demonstrate respect for Phil.”