patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil Emerges, Predicts Weather

Did Phil see his shadow?

 

Update 7:30 a.m.: Phil did not see his shadow; Spring will come early.

Groundhog Day is on Saturday, Feb. 2 this year, and with the up and down weather of the past week, guessing Punxsutawney Phil's prediction this year is especially daunting.

According to the myth, if a groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if he does not, spring is right around the corner.

Last year, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter while Staten Island Chuck called for an early spring.

Groundhog Day and other similar legends are based on the beliefs of Europeans, but the true origins of the holiday are lost in time. The day originated from the Germans, Scots and early Christian Europeans.

It is celebrated every year on Feb. 2. On this day, a groundhog comes out of its burrow and checks for his shadow to determine how soon spring will arrive.

Groundhog Day as we know it in the U.S. started because the Pennsylvania Dutch farmers wanted to know if spring was coming early or not. That information helped them decide when they should plant seeds and half their hay.

Europeans used hedgehogs as the animal that determined the season change but Pennsylvania Dutch farmers chose the groundhog because they were found in greater numbers in North America. Groundhog Day stemmed from the ancient traditions of Candlemas, a holiday that originated in early Christian Europe that was celebrated by the Germans.

As we all know by now, the people of Punxsutawney hold celebrations all night long, as they wait for Punxsutawney Phil, to come out of his burrow and check for his shadow.

Other local ways to celebrate include purchasing some special groundhog gingerbread cookies from Bethel Bakery today or watch Groundhog Day at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont. Here are the showtimes: Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; Feb. 3 at 4 p.m.

Vote: Just for funl, we want to know what was your favorite scene from Groundhog Day? Check out the five You Tube clips to the right, then vote in our poll below.

Related Topics: Bethel Bakery, Bill Murray, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, and hollywood theater

Patch_comments_icon

Becky Brindle

7:36 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

The Pie Place was offering half off coffee drinks today if Phil saw his shadow...and if he doesn't, half off ice cream! See the update in the article to find out the deal.

Reply

Duke

4:30 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013

The movie "Grounhog Day" was the stupidest movie I have ever seen. It insults the intelligence of anyone watching it and wasn't one bit entertaining!

Reply

Leave a comment