Punxsutawney- Punxsutawney Phil declares: Early spring!
Groundhog Day originates from a holiday called Candlemas day, celebrated in different ways by many religions across the world.
Old English saying: If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.
From Scotland: If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There’ll be two winters in the year.
From Germany: For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May.
And from America: If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay.t has not seen its shadow.”
Pennsylvania’s official celebration of Groundhog Day began on February 2nd, 1886 with a proclamation in The Punxsutawney Spirit by the newspaper’s editor, Clymer Freas: “Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow.” The groundhog was given the name “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary” and his hometown thus called the “Weather Capital of the World.” His debut performance: no shadow – early Spring.
The legendary first trip to Gobbler’s Knob was made the following year.
