Groundhog Day puts Punxsutawney Phil's forecast about winter's length in the spotlight

"Tens of thousands of people will be on hand at Gobbler's Knob for the annual ritual that goes back more than a century, with ties to ancient farming traditions in Europe. Punxsutawney's festivities have grown considerably since the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray. Last year's announcement was six more weeks of winter, by far Phil's more common assessment and not much of a surprise during the first week of February."

"His top-hatted handlers in the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club insist Phil's "groundhogese" of winks, purrs, chatters and nods are being interpreted when they relate the meteorological marmot's muses about the days ahead. Phil isn't the only animal being consulted for long-term weather forecasts Monday. There are formal and informal Groundhog Day events in many places in the U.S., Canada and beyond."

Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 centers on Punxsutawney Phil emerging from a stump; a shadow sighting is taken to mean six more weeks of winter, while no shadow suggests an early spring. Tens of thousands attend the Gobbler's Knob ritual, which traces its roots to century-old farming traditions in Europe and has grown since the 1993 film Groundhog Day. Handlers interpret Phil's behaviors, calling them "groundhogese." Multiple communities across the U.S., Canada and beyond hold formal and informal Groundhog Day events. The date falls midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and connects to Candlemas and the Celtic calendar.

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