How do they pick the groundhog for Groundhog Day?

Germans developed their own take on the legend, pronouncing the day sunny only if badgers and other small animals glimpsed their own shadows. When German immigrants settled Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, they brought the custom with them, choosing the native groundhog as the annual forecaster.

How is the groundhog chosen?

On Groundhog Day, a bunch of men, wearing suits and top hats, pull a groundhog out of a hole in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. They then read a scroll the groundhog supposedly wrote, that states whether or not it saw its shadow. This determines if winter will last another six weeks, or if spring is coming soon.

Do they use the same groundhog on Groundhog Day?

They say he is basically immortal.

It's been the same Punxsutawney Phil for all 132 years of the tradition, according to the club. That's over 15 times longer than the upper end of a groundhog's typical lifespan. That's an old groundhog.

How does the groundhog prediction work?

According to folklore, if a groundhog emerges from its hole and sees its shadow, it gets scared and scurries back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, the prediction is that there will be an early spring.

How many Punxsutawney Phil's have there been?

How many "Phils" have there been over the years? There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions since 1886! Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe.

Why Groundhogs Supposedly Predict The Weather On Groundhog Day

How accurate is the groundhog?

According to the Stormfax Almanac, that works out to a 39% accuracy rate for Phil. In the near term, the groundhog's accuracy rate is slightly better. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Phil has been right about 40% of the time on average over the past decade.

Who is the handler of Punxsutawney Phil?

Groundhog handler AJ Derume holds Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow, predicting a late spring during the 136th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb.

Which groundhog is the most accurate?

The most accurate of all rodent prognosticators - General Beauregard Lee, widely considered the "Punxsutawney Phil of the South". Lee holds a 63% accuracy rating nationally, with a 70-80% accuracy rating for certain regions of the United States.

How often is Punxsutawney Phil correct?

NOAA compared Phil's predictions from the last 10 years to the actual weather from that year and found that Phil was only right 40% of the time. The last year Phil's prediction was right was in 2020, when he predicted an early spring. However, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club insists Phil has never been wrong.

How Old Is Phil the groundhog?

HOW OLD IS PHIL? According to Groundhog Club members, there has only been one Phil — and he has been predicting since 1887. That makes him 135 years old!

Who is the original groundhog?

In 1887, a newspaper editor belonging to a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney called the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club declared that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was America's only true weather-forecasting groundhog.

When was the last time groundhog didn't see shadow?

In 2019, the 133rd year of the tradition, the groundhog was summoned to come out at 7:25 am on February 2, but did not see its shadow.

What is the lifespan of a groundhog?

Wild groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, one average live four to five years, but can live up to six years. In captivity they can live ten or more years.

What happened to Punxsutawney Phil?

How about a Wabbit? CORRECTION: Punxsutawney Phil is alive and well! The groundhog that died was the New Jersey version, known as Milltown Mel. No one knows when he slumbered off, but it was during his hibernation phase.

What immigrant group brought the Groundhog Day tradition to the US?

Groundhog Day brings forth a unique wintertime tradition, but the roots of this strange celebration can actually be traced back to German settlers. As many of you know, many of the early settlers from Germany built their communities in Pennsylvania, bringing their own traditions with them to the New World.

Did Phil see his shadow 2021?

Punxsutawney Phil emerged to some falling snow on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Did Milltown Mel see his shadow?

Last year, Milltown Mel did not see his shadow, and predicted an early spring. While Punxsutawney Phil is a more famous groundhog, Milltown Mel's handlers claim they have had a better record of predicting when spring will come. Incase you missed the coverage of me last night, here it is.

Can you visit Punxsutawney Phil?

The Gobbler's Knob Visitor Center houses many historical and rare Groundhog Club, Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil items. A must-see location and free to the public. For hours of operation, visit www.groundhog.org.

Who is the most famous groundhog?

Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who is the central figure in the borough's annual Groundhog Day celebration.

Who is more accurate Punxsutawney Phil or Buckeye Chuck?

Buckeye Chuck is 70 percent accurate in correctly predicting the second half of weather in the Buckeye State. The prediction in Ohio on Groundhog Day by Buckeye Chuck is the opposite of Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow and is predicting more winter.

Are there two groundhogs?

"There has been only one Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking 'groundhog punch' (a secret recipe)," according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. "One sip, which is administered every summer at the Groundhog Picnic, gives him seven more years of life."

Where does Punxsutawney Phil live all year?

According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website, Phil lives in a manmade burrow at a roadside zoo located in Punxsutawney. His burrow has a viewing window, meaning the public can stop by and observe him every day of the year. He lives there with his wife, Phyliss.

Who is the most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania?

Gus is the "spokesgroundhog" in more than 80 commercials for the instant scratch-off lottery games run by the Pennsylvania Lottery from 2004–2012 and 2015–present. Keep on scratchin'! The original concept for Gus was created by MARC USA, an advertising agency based in Pittsburgh, PA.

What is the groundhogs name 2022?

Groundhog Day 2022: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, predicts 6 more weeks of winter.

How many times has the groundhog not see his shadow?

In his many years of forecasting, the prognosticating groundhog has seen his shadow a total of 105 times and didn't see his shadow a total of 20 times, with 10 years where we have no record of his prediction.