Punxsutawney Phil Says 6 More Weeks Of Winter

This morning at Gobbler's Knob Punxsutawney Phil arose to see his shadow and the forecast is set, 6 more weeks of winter. I think we were all kind of leaning that way anyway but go Phil.

So why do you ask are we looking to Phil in the first place? Well, according to Farmer’s Almanac TV the tradition to us from Irish, English, Scottish and German settlers whose folklore said that if the Hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas day there would be 6 more weeks of winter. Rumor has it the French eat crepes on Candlemas day so I’m thinking Phil need to step up his game…but I digress.

So when the settlers came to this country from Europe for the lack of a Hedgehog and the need to still celebrate something in the middle of winter so you have something to do voila! Ground Hog day was born. Legend holds the Phil drinks a magic elixir every summer at the Groundhog Picnic so he never dies. They estimate in Pennsylvania he’s at least 123 years old and why not!  Add to that the magic cane that allows his handlers to understand what Phil is saying.  So to in Phil’s defense maybe the cane isn’t interpreting correctly and Phil is always right…just sayin’

And Phil is not the only Groundhog taking the heat for the weather between the US and Canada there are at least 12 Whistle Pig prognosticators.

Whistle pig you say? Yup. A member of the rodent family groundhogs aka, woodchucks, aka Whistle pigs (for the sound they make) are related to squirrels and quite cleaver and clean little neighbors. Who really appreciate your veggie patch.

Regardless, the folks of Punxsutawney love Phil and Bill Murray.  Since the movie 'Groundhog Day' the little town of Punxsutawney grows 7x its population on February 2^nd or in other words to about 30,000.

According to the weather channel Phil is only right about 40% of the time. No shadow Phil stay calm and looks for food.  To much sun on that day and the direction of its rays cast a shadow about the size of a coyote and scares him back into the hole. Hey if you think the cane makes him talk....why not.

No seriously, I love Woodchucks.  Watch this and you will too. I mean these little guys can climb trees and swim and they build houses with bathrooms, impressive.