Punxsutawney Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter

February 2, 2009

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Monday morning, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Every year, the groundhog emerges just before dawn on Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 – the Christian holiday of Candlemas – winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said Spring will arrive early.

According to MSNBC, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times since 1887. Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary for Tourism Mickey Rowley said Groundhog Day festivities are the state’s largest tourist gathering in the winter.