The Groundhog Makes His Call

Early Spring Predicted By Punxsutawney Phil In Front Of 15,000 Revelers

(CBS/AP)  A new pair of hands pulled Punxsutawney Phil from his stump this year, so it was only fitting that the groundhog offered a new prediction.

Phil did not see his shadow on Friday which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.

Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, has not seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.

More than 15,000 revelers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction, as fireworks exploded overhead and the "Pennsylvania Polka" and other music blared in the background.

Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired after more than a dozen years and was replaced Friday by Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.

Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.

The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

Interest in Punxsutawney's festivities got a huge boost in the early 1990s after the release of the film "Groundhog Day," in which Bill Murray plays a television reporter covering the event.

The town's web site, groundhog.org, whimsically claims that there has been just one Punxsutawney Phil in the entire time locals have been gathering at his headquarters, Gobbler's Knob, and that he gets his longevity from drinking "the elixir of life."

Don't try to buy some for yourself – legend has it the elixir comes from a secret recipe.

[rluhlman]

If we can continue to propagate a ritual as silly as this, mybe there is some hope for the human race to survive.

[neocon04]

Here is my Groundhog prediction. If the groundhog sees his shadow indicating 6 more weeks of winter then it will be Presidants Bush's fault. If the groundhog does not see his shadow indicating an early spring then it will because of Global Warming and again be blaimed on Bush.

[nothappyatall]

Another STUPIDstition, you would think that the first time that didn't work the clueless would figure gee, maybe this doesn't really work and we are just being IDIOTS...

[luvdpatriots]

Thank you Punxsutawney Phil.....you just made my day. I don't care if we have six more weeks or a month and a half left to winter.....Punxs said an early spring and that's that. Great....

[getserious1]

Only the pathetic Libs could find fault with something as silly and as fun as groundhog day. What's wrong with you people???

[clestes-2009]

Hope you're right, Phil!

[jjones6218]

newster1 **Another STUPIDstition, you would think that the first time that didn't work the clueless would figure gee, maybe this doesn't really work and we are just being IDIOTS...**

Superstition or not. The groundhog is about as accurate as your local weatherman when it comes to predicting what is going to happen with the weather, so the next time you take your umbrella out with you when you go shopping and it doesnt rain, think to yourself how much of an IDIOT you are. I seriously doubt anyone really puts any importance on the accuracy of the groundhog. It's just a tradition, something people look forward to every year. I would rather read about stuff like this and have something positive to read, regardless of how stupid it may seem, then read about how some 50 year old man gets off by molesting little kids.

[billion2005]

What a dumb tradition.

[intn1]

What is this world coming to when people can't have a little fun? Do I believe Phil the groundhog is right all the time? Maybe not. But do I think it's stupid? Not at all. It's just some fun. People need a little fun in their lives. Have you people SEEN the state of the world here lately?

[coltcreek-2009]

just good too see some creature in the news beside obama barak and hillary clinton
for a change ....

[coltcreek]

IT IS SMALL TOWN FESTIVALS AND EVENTS SUCH AS THIS IN ANYTOWM AMERICA THAT MAKES US PROUD NTO BE WHO WE ARE EVERY TOWN HAS ITS STORY EVERY TOWN HAS ITSB TRADITION ,AND ITS GREAT THSI SMALL PENN.TOWN CAN GRAB THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A DAY , I WAS ALSO THINKING AS I WAS WATCHING TODAY IT WAS GOOD TO SEE AN EVNENT IN WHICH THE
GROUNDHOG CLUB MEMEBERS WERE DRESSED CLASSY AND LITTEL COMMERCIALLISM WAS FOUND AS WELL AS A WONDERFULLY WRITTEN SPEECH WEVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM CLASS ANYMORE ,ITS REVELANT IN OUR NEWS ANCHORS ,GAME SHOW HOSTS AND ACTORS AND SINGERS
,GROUNDHOG CLUB ...KEEP IT UP

[noconflicts]

Geez, billion2005, getserious1 & jjones6218, lighten up! Go glower in the corner and let everyone else enjoy the fun.

Your lives make me sad.

[tellerchix]

yeah noconflicts! right on. those other guys are all bootleg talking like theyre some freakin ferrari's and theyre really they are just some bootleg hatchbacks from 1979! hahaha lol! go groundhogs and go bears!!!!!!!!!! badunk badunk!

[tellerchix]

hey are we stranger than having a username
9 0 2 1 0????? Lame