Well it’s official, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow…
According to German folklore, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 2, the Christian holiday for Candlemas, winter will last another 6 weeks, and that’s exactly what happened this morning in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at approximately 7:30am. Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler’s Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney (btw – Punxsutawney is located in Western Pennsylvania, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh), to witness Phil, the groundhog, emerge from its burrow to predict the weather.
I just love the whole idea of this “holiday”. I’ve always known about Groundhog Day, but never really thought that much about it. Well that’s not the case in Pennsylvania! I had no idea that cowds as high as 40,000 people have been gathering together to celebrate Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney since 1886. And this year they have even more reason to celebrate with the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Superbowl 43 last night in Tampa.
Here are some more fun facts about Phil the infamous Groundhog:
- His full name is actually “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary”.
- For most of the year, Phil lives in a climate-controlled home at the Punxsutawney Library. He is taken to Gobbler’s Knob and placed in a heated burrow underneath a simulated tree stump on stage before being pulled out to make his prediction.
- Phil is reported to be more than 100 years old.
- His wife’s name is Phyllis.
Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is in a couple weeks! Men, it’s still not too late to pick out a sexy outfit for that special lady in your life. From sexy to sassy HalloweenExpress.com has what you’re looking for! And ladies if you want to surprise that special man in your life, well you’ve come to the right place. Check out all the beautiful Valentine’s Day costumes that will make this February 14th a night to remember!
