EVER WONDERED whether groundhogs can predict the weather?

[Refugee 7]

Punxsutawney Phil gets a special wake-up call on this day every year.

Today, just like every Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day. But it is not a day to celebrate groundhogs.

Instead, it is the day when groundhogs supposedly predict the weather. The most famous is Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and here's what happens -- at least according to the day's legend:

· Phil is awakened from his winter hibernation and taken outside to see whether he casts a shadow on the ground. (Remember that hibernation is when some animals go into a special sleep during winter.)

· If he sees his shadow, he goes back to sleep, and humans know that winter will continue for six more weeks.

· If Phil sees no shadow, he supposedly does not go back to sleep, because he has sensed the start of spring.

How did this tradition get started?

In ancient times, people of different cultures celebrated Feb. 2 to mark the coming of warmer weather because the day is midway between the start of winter and spring. Candles were lit in a festival of lights to mark the day, and it became known as Candlemas. (The Catholic Church later declared a festival to honor Jesus on that day.)

People living many years ago also used that day to predict the weather.

Tradition said that if Feb. 2 was sunny, it meant winter would last for six more weeks. If it was cloudy, winter was said to be nearly over.

Now take those traditions and add this: Farmers used to look for the reappearance of hibernating animals to tell them when spring had arrived. Early American settlers relied on the groundhog.

In the 1800s, a little town in western Pennsylvania called Punxsutawney began an annual celebration in which a local groundhog became a weather forecaster.

In 1887, the groundhog, named Phil, was taken to a hill called Gobbler's Knob, where the event has been held every year since. Now thousands of visitors go each year to watch people in tuxedoes awaken Phil and take him outside to look for his shadow.

The 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray made Punxsutawney very popular, though other cities and towns have their own celebrations with their own groundhogs.

So how good are groundhogs at predicting the weather?

Not good at all.

It is said that generally they are right less than half the time -- even though the people in Punxsutawney insist that Phil is never wrong!

-- Valerie Strauss

SOURCES: "The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents)," by Judy Galens and Nancy Pear, from Visible Ink Press; http://www.groundhog.org; http://www.farmersalmanac.com; http://www.pittsburgh.about.com/cs/punxsutawney/a/groundhog_day.htm

[WildflowerNJ 136]

Very intereseting to read this, Linda, thank you for it.

Maybe Phil just wants to stay in his warm bed....our resident groundhogs will not be bothered today, they can sleep.....hoping for an early Spring.

[WildflowerNJ 136]

My sister just called. She was upset they pulled him out....:085:

He saw his shadow...six more weeks of winter......that is okay, more time to clean out my closets, lol....

[emmie 2]

No it's just a gimmick.

[Pettyjunkie 0]

Interesting. Either way is good for me. Although I would love to keep this beautiful weather around longer.

[surfnburn 5]

It's a bizarre cultural tradition that had a remote association to farmers a long time ago.. Poor guy...He looks so confused...lol

[brandonwood20 0]

I believe it works. We may just have to bend our definition of Winter....

[nurktwin 2,143]

"It is said that generally they are right less than half the time"

even at less than 50%, phil is better than my weatherman!!

[KansasPettyFan 1]

I always feel sorry for the little thing being pulled out of his bed.

[WildflowerNJ 136]

Me, too, Teresa.....with all those lights. :085:

My guys are resting up.........they are dreaming of all the extra tomato plants I set out for them in the back come Spring ...