February 2, 2005
The Scotsman
Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, and the news isn’t good.
The United States’ most famous furry forecaster saw his shadow on Gobbler’s Knob, suggesting another six weeks of wintry weather, at least around here.
The chubby groundhog delivered the prediction after he was pulled from his burrow in an oak stump in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, yesterday by a top-hatted handler, and his prediction was greeted by boos from the thousands who had gathered for what has become a winter tradition.
“He’s only the messenger!” one of the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club – the volunteer group in charge of Phil and the town’s Groundhog Day festivities – reminded the crowd braving the frigid weather.
The tradition stems from the Christian holiday of Candlemas, and the belief that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow, winter will last another six weeks. If there’s no shadow, spring will come early.
Whether Phil sees his shadow is beside the point, however. Organisers of the event and the festivals, concerts and craft fair in the town, 65 miles north-east of Pittsburgh, say Groundhog Day is all about the fun – and a chance to shake winter’s chilly cloak.
According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club – the volunteer group in charge of Phil and the town’s Groundhog Day festivities – Phil saw his shadow for the 94th time last year.
He hasn’t seen his shadow 14 times; nine years have no record of the outcome.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4080940