By: SUZANA GUZMAN
Staff writer
On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day featured a rodent that was celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring. According to our own Groundhog predictions, we expect to see sunny skies on February 2, which means that Phil would indeed see his shadow and predict six more weeks of winter. Groundhog Day is famously connected to weather prediction, with the most prominent tradition involving a groundhog predicting the conclusion of winter by seeing (or not seeing) his own shadow. Since the traditional celebration anticipated the planting of crops, a central focus of the festivities was the forecasting of either an early spring or a lingering winter.
- Sees his shadow: If the groundhog emerges from his hole on a clear day and sees his shadow, he will retreat and there will be six more weeks of wintry weather.
- No Shadow: If he emerges from his burrow and does NOT see his shadow, then early weather is right around the corner.
