In terms of weather, there is no bigger day than Groundhog Day. Today, we turn our attention to this furry critter who tries to sleep through the winter months. The most famous groundhog called Punxsutawney Phil. People gather at in Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Our FATV crew covered Groundhog Day a couple years ago and we have been sharing the excitement with you on our home page.
The legend comes to us from German which actually referred to a bear or badger foretelling the weather on February 1st. While this is the tradition, no one seems to know how the animal was changed from a bear to a groundhog. Maybe people decided, it’s not a good idea to grab a bear and drag him our of his den. At any rate if the groundhog sees his shadow, he is startled and heads back to his den and we’ll get 6 more weeks of winter. If there is no shadow, then winter is over and we expect milder weather (early Spring).
Well, the official word, is that Phil saw his shadow this morning and there will be 6 more weeks of winter. Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times and hasn’t see it 15 times. So, for folks in Kentucky, the North Plains and new England, keep the shovels out. We have been calling for a long winter all along with snows in March and even April in many parts of the country.
Today we “toast” old Phil and tomorrow and for the next 6 weeks we’ll wish he’d never come out of his den.
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
1 comment
The belief that a groundhog can gauge whether 6 more weeks of winter will happen seems only relevant in latitudes getting closer the poles.
Living in the southern US I heard “6-more weeks of winter” while seeing spring happening in our area.
I’m certain that Puxatawney Phil has no jurisdiction in South Texas!! lol!