Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog, has seen his shadow this Groundhog Dog 2009. That means winter, according to Phil, will last another six weeks.
Groundhog Day 2009: Punxsutawney Phil’s Prediction
Punxsutawney Phil came out early Monday morning as a crowd of 13,000 looked on in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The groundhog does his annual deed on a hill known as Gobbler’s Knob.
The official Groundhog Day 2009 forecast:
Hear Ye Hear Ye
On Gobbler’s Knob this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2009
Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators
Awoke to the call of President Bill Cooper
And greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths
After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers,
Phil proclaimed that his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers were World Champions one more time
And a bright sky above me
Showed my shadow beside me.
So 6 more weeks of winter it will be.
Groundhog Day 2009 Video
Groundhog Day: The Big Picture
Groundhog Day is considered Pennsylvania’s largest tourist attraction of the winter. The whole thing goes back to an old German superstition about an animal in hibernation. Legend has is that if such an animal casts a shadow on the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which is on February 2, winter will last another six weeks. If the shadow is missing, spring is on the way.
Phil has seen his shadow the vast majority of the Groundhog Days over the past century and beyond. Ninety-seven Groundhog Days have ended with a winter prediction, while only 15 recorded ones have ended with Phil seeing no shadow and calling for spring.
Punxsutawney is about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. It’s home to 6,100 people.