Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, has made his official predictions at the 131st celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Groundhog Day, an occasion made world-famous by the eponymous 1993 movie starring Bill Murray, saw the weather-predicting rodent emerge from his burrow to see his shadow today; meaning Americans will endure another six weeks of winter.
This morning’s festivities saw hundreds of people descend on the hilariously-titled Gobbler’s Knob to watch an oversized variety of ground squirrel hauled from his sleep and held above a cheering mob of Ned Ryersons (bing!).
Phil’s annual appearance is a much-loved celebration in the Pennsylvania town, dating back to 1886. Records show that he has predicted winter 103 times, but forecast an early spring just 18 times (including last year).
The custom is said to have its origins in German weather lore, namely Candlemas Day celebrated on the 2nd of February,
“For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May.“
Sadly, the powers that be at Gobbler’s Knob don’t seem to be too confident about poor aul Phil’s mystical meteorological abilities as a group decides his prediction in advance. So now y’know. Winter is coming.
Why do I get a feeling we’ve been here before?
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