Punxutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, saw his own shadow Feb. 2, 2021, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, ensuring another six weeks of the winter season.

Groundhog’s day was first celebrated by the fine town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania back in 1887. The star of the show is the groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil, who is named after his hometown. The great Phil allegedly drinks “The Elixir of Life,” every groundhog’s day, which grants him the ability to live seven more years; therefore, confirming the reason Phil has been the same groundhog since the first event. While in reality, simple math would imply we are on Punxsutawney Phil XIX. 

The Groundhog’s Day tradition began in 1887 when the local Punxsutawney newspaper began the holiday. The great groundhog this year ruled there will be six more dreadful weeks of the winter season, with spring to wait beyond the horizon. According to Michael Hart, “I don’t believe the groundhog predicts the weather as the weather would vary between states, like Arizona would never have winter as it is so hot in most places.” 

Is the groundhog real? Is Phil a messenger from the Lord himself? Dylan Luft seems to think so, as he said, “I believe the groundhog because it’s shown all over the news, and I’m pretty sure people have tested it.” Not all are so enthusiastic about the groundhog’s predictions though. Grant Bebow shared, “I don’t like that there are six more weeks of winter. Phil can go back in his hole and die.”

Since the original occurrence of the holiday, people have come to accept the animalistic symbol of Pennsylvania in blind hope for an earlier spring, across the midwest and the country.

While the initial thought may seem to be outright lunacy from the perspective of a third party, the hold the groundhog has around the town of Punxsutawney may seem to suggest Phil is more powerful than he may seem.