Groundhog Day Tradition – 131 Years Strong

The tradition of watching a groundhog to determine an early spring dates back to 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. We all know the legend: If Phil the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather; if he does not see his shadow, an early spring is expected.

Each year on February 2, thousands visit Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney to watch Phil emerge at sunrise.

But did you know other cities and towns have come up with their own versions of weather-predicting creatures? Among these are Birmingham Bill, Staten Island Chuck and Shubenacadie Sam in Canada.

– Deneen Bloom, S&A Communications