by Marcy Buzzelli

Created on: January 01, 2010

Whenever you see a distinguished group of men dressed in top hats and tuxedos grouped together, several thoughts come to mind. The first thought has to be that a solemn occasion is about to take place. Perhaps a wedding is about to occur?  Or perhaps a royal coronation is about to happen?  Or perhaps an inauguration of great importance is about to commence? Or perhaps a groundhog is about to appear?  What, you say? Why would a lowly groundhog merit the formal attire of a tux and top hat worn by normal-looking grownup males?

Weddings, coronations, and inaugurations are all acknowledged to be solemn rituals that require formal attire. Of equal solemnity is the appearance on February 2 of Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog with royal lineage and extraordinary prediction capabilities! Phil’s “Inner Circle” of formally dressed men is most respectful and deferential to the groundhog that has been heard around the world on the morning of February 2 since 1887.  Phil’s royal roots go back to King Phillip for whom he was named in the early 1800’s. Thanks to the “elixir of life,” a secret concoction which Phil drinks every summer at the Groundhog Picnic, his life has been preserved for nearly two centuries; there has been one and only one Punxsutawney Phil. He is irreplaceable!

Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania is the home of this most extraordinary groundhog with his thousands of adoring followers.  The obvious question at this point is what does Phil have going for himself other than his longevity, Inner Circle, and royal beginnings? The answer, of course, is that Punxsutawney Phil can predict the weather for the six weeks following February 2, Groundhog Day. If Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring. When Phil does not see his shadow, there is appreciative applause by his fawning followers!  Occasionally, due to weather and cloud conditions, the shadow or lack thereof, is not always easily discerned. If that occurs, Phil will speak in Groundhogese to the tuxedo-clad Groundhog President who will then convey the official groundhog pronouncement of a prolonged winter or early spring.

Each February 2 the national news media with cameras and microphones at the ready descend on Gobbler’s Knob to learn what weather Phil will predict for the next six weeks. Many teachers all over the United States have lessons plans that center around this one very famous groundhog. And grown men in top hats and tuxedos have their day revolve around the world famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.

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