Punxsutawney Phil lore Punxsutawney Phil

punxsutawney phil groundhog may or may not see shadow.

the practices , lore of punxsutawney phil s predictions predicated on light-hearted suspension of disbelief involved. according lore, there 1 phil, , other groundhogs impostors. claimed 1 groundhog has lived make weather prognostications since 1886, sustained drinks of groundhog punch or elixir of life administered @ annual groundhog picnic in fall. in reality, lifespan of groundhog 6 years , unknown how many groundhogs have played phil.

according groundhog club, phil, after prediction, speaks club president in groundhogese , current president can understand, , prediction translated entire world.

the groundhog day celebration rooted in celtic , germanic tradition says if hibernating animal casts shadow on february 2, pagan holiday of imbolc (known among christians candlemas), winter , cold weather last 6 weeks. if no shadow seen, legend says, spring come early. in germany, tradition evolved myth if sun came out on candlemas, hedgehog cast shadow, predicting snow way may. when german immigrants settled in pennsylvania, transferred tradition onto local fauna, replacing hedgehogs groundhogs.

each year 2 scrolls prepared vice president of inner circle: 1 says spring , 1 says 6 more weeks of winter. these scrolls placed during ceremony on stump , after phil awoken crowd, phil communicates in groundhogese president directed phil proper scroll , forecast.