PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) – There will be six more winter weeks, Phil Punxsutawney predicted as he left his lair on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day performances.
Members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke the furry creature at 7:25 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see if he would see his shadow or not.
Shortly after this year’s prediction was revealed, one of the members of the inner circle shared a message that said Phil had told him earlier in the day, “After winter, we look forward to one of the most beautiful springs. and brilliant you have “. I’ve never seen it. “
Another member of the “inner circle” pointed out last year’s uniqueness.
“People refer to Groundhog Day. It has seemed like we sometimes live the same day over and over again, “said one member.” Groundhog Day also shows us that monotony is over. The cycle will be broken. “
“Today is Groundhog Day, there is only one,” he added. “There’s literally a new day coming on the horizon.”
The Groundhog Day show still continued, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, partygoers were unable to see Phil and celebrate in person: this year, everything was virtual and included cardboard scraps to represent spectators. .
A live broadcast, which had more than 15,000 viewers at any one time, reproduced images from the previous day of Groundhog Day before the big revelation.
Then, of course, the forecast of the forecasts arose in the morning. Tradition says that if he sees his shadow as he did this year, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, spring is coming soon.
With cup bars, club members summoned Phil from a new tree trunk.
“You look beautiful,” club president Jeff Lundy told Phil, who was directing members to one of the two rolls.
A club member announced: “We have all been through the darkness of the night, but now we see hope in the bright light of the morning. But now, when I see it again, there is a perfect shadow of me ”.
Live streaming from Gobbler’s Knob, a small hill on the outskirts of Punxsutawney, about 105 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, is possible thanks to Holi-stay PA from the Pennsylvania Tourist Office. The event there (always on February 2) dates back to 1887.
Phil this year, like many years in the past, gave his forecasts during a major snowstorm that affected the entire northeast.
The annual event has its origins in a German legend about a hairy rodent. Records dating back to the late 1800s show that Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The 2020 forecast predicted early spring – However, Phil said nothing about a pandemic.
In his 135-year history, Phil has predicted winter 106 times and spring 20 times, the club said. Ten years were lost because no records were kept.
Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog seer, but he’s certainly not the only one. There are two other high-profile “imposters,” as the Punxsutawney Marmot Club calls them, in the region.
Chuck from Staten Island will be asked for his prophecy Tuesday around 8 a.m. at the Staten Island Zoo in New York. This event will be played on Facebook since the zoo is closed.
Also without bragging rights, Chuckles, Connecticut’s official state groundhog, will make a prediction from home: Manchester’s Lutz Children’s Museum. This will also be played on Facebook. Chuckles X died in September, and it remains to be seen if a greased Chuckles XI will emerge on Tuesday.