photo credit: Lyla Bice
On a cold February morning, a crowd with thousands of people bundle up with anticipation as they await the sunrise. Although temperatures were frigid, devoted fans from all over the country gathered in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to be the first to know what seasons await them.
Groundhog Day took place on Feb. 2, when groundhogs and other prophesizing animals across the nation are believed to indicate the length of the cold winter and if spring will come early or not. The most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has a fanbase of thousands from around the world, and this year marked his 140th prognostication.
“It was cold, but festive because everyone there was excited for Groundhog Day,” junior Natalie Deutschendorf said, who attended a Groundhog Day event.
According to Punxsutawney lore, Phil, the groundhog, has been forecasting the weather since 1886, an event that takes place at the outdoor grounds called Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney and is hosted by The Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle, which is a group of local men who plan and execute all local Groundhog Day festivities, according to groundhog.org. These festivities include a talent show, a formal ball, a banquet and a luncheon with Phil.
“My favorite part of groundhogs day is that I got to spend it with my friends and we got to miss some school,” junior Arya Lammert said.
If the weather is cloudy on Groundhog Day, then the groundhog will not see his shadow, and spring will come early. If the sun is out and the groundhog sees his shadow, then six more weeks of winter is imminent, and winter will last until March, according to groundhog.org.
“I was hoping for early spring because I don’t like the cold. It’s so cold in the morning walking from my car to the school, but I love the snow days,” Lammert said.
On this year’s Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and prognosticated six more weeks of winter, a prediction that came right after huge snow and ice storms hit many parts of the United States Although many are disappointed, Phil’s predictions only hold a 35 percent accuracy rate, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“I don’t think the groundhogs are accurate, and they just get it right because it’s a 50/50 chance,” Deutschendorf said.
The state of Ohio has its own official groundhog that predicts the weather. Buckeye Chuck, who was declared Ohio’s official groundhog by the state legislature in 1979, makes his appearance in Marion, Ohio every year to make his prediction. Although there wasn’t as large of a crowd as Punxsutawney, dozens of Ohioans came out to see Chuck on Feb. 2.
“The vibes in Marion were there. Everyone was vibing despite the fact that it was so cold outside (but it was in a garage so at least we were a little warmer than those in Punxsutawney). My friends and I were pretty fired up because we all had matching beanies and sweatshirts. You could tell that everyone was excited to see the famous Buckeye Chuck,” Lammert, who went to see Chuck, said.
Other little known weather predicting groundhogs include Staten Island Chuck, who has an 85 percent accuracy rate and predicted six more weeks of winter, according to the NOAA. In Ohio, Walnut the Hedgehog from Dayton and Benny the Bass from Buckeye Lake both predicted an early spring, which are forecasts that align with Buckeye Chuck.
“The groundhogs can’t be trusted because Phil said six more weeks of winter but Chuck on the other hand said early spring, so now it’s like ‘who’s the fraud?’,” Lammert said.
While for some, Groundhog Day brings dread of the future winter, others await the prospect of an early spring. No matter which season is predicted, everyone always has a reason to see the holiday as a day worth the celebration.
