Phil, Punxsutawney's famous rodent meteorologistin Pennsylvania, came out of its hibernation den on Friday, did not see its shadow and expected that Americans would have an early spring.
Hundreds of revelers gathered before dawn on Gobbler's Knob Hill, cheered and clapped as ritual officials at 07:22 (12:22 GMT) read the letter supposedly chosen by Phil.
“Spring will certainly come early,” said one committee member. Groundhog ClubWhich explained the roar of the animal, which seemed surprised and confused.
Since the tradition began in 1887, this was only the 20th time the groundhog did not see his shadow. According to legend, when there is enough sunlight for an animal to see its shadow, there are six weeks left before the end of winter.
Although the tradition remains, Phil's forecast is 36% accurate according to the Stormfax Almanac.
According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the groundhog saw its shadow 107 times, and did not see it 20 times, and there is no data for about 10 years at the end of the 19th century. In 1942, Phil only partially saw his shadow, and the following year he did not leave the bunker. Between 2013 and 2023, the groundhog predicted an additional six weeks of winter seven times, and was right just once.
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club that claims it It's the same animal that has been making predictions for 130 years thanks to the “elixir of life.”confirms that Phil has a 100% correct record.
The celebration in Punxsutawney is the initiative of a group of fishermen who adopted the rodent as a pet in a ritual every February 2, about 110 kilometers northeast of Pittsburgh. This ritual has pagan roots that grants animals supernatural powers in the period between the winter equinox and the spring solstice.
In the Christian calendar, this date coincides with Candlemas Day, when believers believe that a clear sky announces a longer winter and that a cloudy day announces the approaching end of winter.
Phil isn't the only groundhog in the meteorological field, but he is the most famous. Other places in North America have their own places: General Bo Lee (Atlanta), Yarton Willie (Ontario, Canada), Sir Walter Willie (Raleigh, North Carolina), Jimmy (Wisconsin), Chuck (New York), Birmingham Bill (Birmingham, Alabama) ) and Potomac Phil, a stuffed groundhog, in Washington, D.C
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