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Groundhog Day is a huge event in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pa. Crowds gather every February 2nd to watch Punxsutawney Phil peek out of his burrow and give us his forecast. Will winter soon be over or do we have 6 more weeks to endure?

Since 1887, the tradition of a groundhog meteorologist has put Punxsutawney, Pa on the map for one day a year at least. Legend has it that if it is a bright and sunny morning when Phil comes out of his underground bedroom he will see his own shadow. That indicates 6 more weeks of awful winter weather and he will return to his home to wait it out. If Phil doesn't see his shadow because it is a cloudy morning, winter is almost over and spring is right around the corner. Phil's winter sleep is over and he'll stay out to enjoy the weather.

The origins of a groundhog weatherman dates back to Candlemas Day which was celebrated on February 2nd. Candlemas is the purification of the blessed mother held forty days after the birth of Christ. Early Christians believed that clear skies on Candlemas Day foretold a longer winter. It is believed the Germans were responsible for bringing this tradition to Pennsylvania and awarding the weather observation to groundhogs. The site known as the official Punxsutawney Groundhog Club quotes an old English song;

If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul,
The half of winter's gone at Yule.

Punxsutawney Phil became the official groundhog for Groundhog Day celebrations by way of an editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper who happened to also be a member of a group of hunters who called themselves the "Punxsutawney Groundhog Club". This gentleman proclaimed in the Punxsutawney newspaper on February 2, 1887 that Punxsutawney Phil was the official shadow seeking groundhog and a legend was born. Phil has attained national and possibly global recognition as the official four legged weather forecaster.

The small town of Punxsutawney is deluged with tens of thousands of spectators every February 2nd. The crowds throng to an area known as Gobbler's Knob and await Punxsutawney Phil's appearance. Phil's fame was spread in part by the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray in 1993. The furry fellow has achieved much more than his 15 minutes of fame. He has rubbed elbows with Pennsylvania governors Dick Thornburgh and Ed Rendell. He traveled to Washington, DC and met President Reagan in 1986. He has made an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show. His 2001 prediction

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