Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter in his Groundhog Day celebrations.pennsylvania

Punkstownie Phil, the famous groundhog named after the western movie pennsylvania The town where he lives in a tree stump predicted another six weeks of winter during Thursday’s annual Groundhog Day celebration.

People gathered at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Phil’s “inner circle” summoned the round rodent from his stump at dawn to find out if he had seen his shadow. The insider said he

According to folklore, when Punxsutawney Phil (an honorary title given to groundhogs in history) sees his shadow on February 2nd, there will be six more weeks of winter. Otherwise spring will come early.

The “Inner Circle” is a group of local dignitaries responsible for planning the annual event and feeding and caring for Phil.

This annual event in Punkstownie, about 100 kilometers northeast of Pittsburgh, has its roots in a German legend. The gathering attracts thousands of people each year.

This year, Phil’s prediction came at a time when ice, sleet, and snow chaos lingered over much of the southern United States.

According to records dating back to 1887, Phil predicted winter over 100 times. Organizers say a decade was lost because no records were kept.

Forecasts for 2021 and 2022 required an additional six weeks of winter.

Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog visionary, but thanks in large part to Groundhog Day, Beloved Comedy Films of 1993 Starring Bill Murray, he’s not the only one.

In New York City, Staten Island Chuck made an early spring prophecy during an event at the Staten Island Zoo.

Staten Island Chuck is also an honorable name, passed down to groundhogs from generation to generation.

Remember, in 2014, then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped a groundhog during a ceremony.

Groundhog died a week later. amid increasingly picaresque political scandals, clearly The deceased rodent was actually a stand-in for a woman named Charlotte, not Staten Island Chuck that year.

Zoo spokesman Brian Morris explained that “the grumpiest groundhog of the day” was usually used for the ceremony.