Groundhog Daze

Another Groundhog Day has come and gone, the annual tradition celebrated every February by abruptly waking a burrowing rodent from his winter slumber at sunrise to become a meteorologist for a day. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow, expect six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, there will an early spring. (For me, spring is never too early!)

One of the most famous furry February forecasters making these predictions every year is Punxsutawney Phil, residing in the rural countryside of Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Phil is a celebrity in the Northeast U.S., and gained worldwide attention after he made numerous appearances in the 1993 film comedy, “Groundhog Day.” (Note: Prior to the movie, Gobbler’s Knob had crowds of about 2,000 on Groundhog Day. Since the movie, crowds there have topped as high as 30,000 for the celebration.)

Gobblers Knob - Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

Phil appeared repeatedly and handsomely in that movie, thus attracting a following of admirers, because the movie is about one day, Groundhog Day, repeating over and over in a time loop until Bill Murray, a dispirited rather grumpy TV weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, reexamines his life, makes needed personality adjustments, and finally gets the lovely producer, Andie MacDowell, to fall in love with him. 

Here’s a funny trailer from the movie:

Fun movie, one of my favorites, but back to present day Groundhog Phil…  

Crowds gathered at dawn on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney on the frosty cold morning of February 2, bundled up in warm coats, scarves and hats, cameras in gloved hands, anxiously awaiting the forecast. As the sun began rising over the wooded hillside, Phil slowly emerged from his tree stump burrow, looking sleepy but regal, rubbed his eyes, sat up and gave what everyone swears was a wave to the delighted crowd. Phil then paused and looked around, contemplating the importance of the moment as the crowd leaned forward, and the proclamation was made for February 2014: Six more weeks of winter!

Phil says, "I can only please half of the people half of the time!"

Snow lovers cheered; spring lovers jeered! My two-cents to Phil: I am not pleased (although I understand the big furball is only doing his job). This winter has already been the worst we have seen in many years in these parts with heavy snow, ice storms and freezing temperatures (and I don’t like to be that cold!). OK, I know there are some snow lovers out there but for many of us spring cannot come soon enough. 

"Well, it's Groundhog Day... again!"
"There is no way this winter is ever going to end, as long as this groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don't see any other way out. He's got to be stopped!"

~ Bill Murray, Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil, Weather Prophet Extraordinary according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, has been in the “early Spring or forget about it, six more weeks of winter!” forecasting business since 1887...that’s right, 1887...well over a century of emerging from his cozy burrow every February 2 to let us know which way the season will go. He’s quite senior for a groundhog, ancient in fact. The Punxsutawney Groundhog website insists there has only been one Phil throughout all those years. Apparently Phil’s lifespan, much longer than any groundhog in history, has been magically extended by sipping a secret recipe Groundhog Punch called the “elixir of life” served up by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club at their annual summer picnic. Secret recipe groundhog punch...hmmm…

Rumors are circulating that Phil may have lost his edge, gotten a bit too comfy. Since becoming a celebrity, the venerable groundhog forecaster has been spending his time in a cozy, heated simulated tree trunk (no burrow in the ground for him), warm and snug, munching on veggie chips and sipping perhaps a wee bit too much of that groundhog punch. After all, his record has been spotty in recent years, having made accurate predictions only 39% of the time. Last winter, Phil predicted an early spring and what happened? We had cold days and snow right through to the end of March. Slipping there, Phil! Looks like groundhog daze to me!

As I am writing this post, my area is expecting yet another major snow storm this winter, a big Nor'easter in fact, so Phil's forecast just may be on target this time. Spring will still come again...one day! Until then, pass the hot chocolate please.

©2014 JerseyLil’s 2 Cents

Photos (except for the hot chocolate photo) from Wikimedia Commons and Google images. Video from YouTube.