Punxsutawney Phil's town misses Groundhog Day boost
Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 135th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. โThe economic impact was really bad.โThe mayor said the community of roughly 6,000 residents swells with between 10,000 to 15,000 tourists on Groundhog Day. AdโOn a normal Groundhog Day, there are so many festivities and the businesses and restaurants are inundated,โ the Republican said. She said Groundhog Day typically gives local merchants a boost at a time of year when tourism is usually slow. Groundhog Day has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent.
A gloomy Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil says more winter
Groundhog Club President Jeff Lundy interacts with Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 135th celebration of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. โ There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties. Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog seer but he's certainly not the only one. There are two other high-profile โimposters,โ as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls them, in the region. Connecticut marked Groundhog Day with a hedgehog making the prediction after the stateโs official groundhog, Chuckles X, died last year.
Pennsylvania groundhog declares early spring 'a certainty'
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. โ Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog on Sunday declared: โSpring will be early, it's a certainty.โAt sunrise on Groundhog Day, members of Punxsutawney Phil's top hat-wearing inner circle revealed the cuddly oracle's prediction โ his 134th, according to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office. He then grasped the glove of a handler as a member of his inner circle announced that spring would come early this year. In reality, Phil's prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney. Over the past five years โ from 2015 through 2019 โ Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter thrice and an early spring twice. Philโs prediction was mirrored by one of his fellow groundhogs in New York.