DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum It's Groundhog Time

At 7:25 AM tomorrow morning Punxsutawny Phil will tell us whether we have six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Myself, I'm betting on March 21 but I'm no weather telling rat. I kinda feel like watching Groundhog Day now. If you're not into Groundhog Day, no problem. I'll leave you with a smiling visual: thousands of Steeler fans standing outside in sub-zero windchills waiting on their version of a Magic 8 ball, a rat. Official Groundhog Club Site

Looking for answers to your Groundhog Day questions? You've come to the right spot! Click the links to the left to learn about various aspects of the Groundhog Day holiday, and how we've been celebrating it in Punxsutawney since 1886.

Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the holiday:

. Yes! Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors.

. How often is Phil's prediction correct? 100% of the time, of course!

. How many "Phils" have there been over the years? There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 120 years!

. Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.

. On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.

. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

. No! Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.

. The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."

. Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887.

. So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog.

I got you babe...Rise and shine campers, better put on your boots cuz its gonna be a cooooooold one!

The Dayton groundhog -- IVY -- isn't expected to see her shadow.

Don't know if I believe the groundhog or not. All I know is it's supposed to be the coldest weekend coming up...around 5 degrees during the day is what I heard.....just get to a decent point in time and give us some sunshine

It looks like Phil and Ivy have a little competition. Groundhogs Gaining in Shadow of Phil

Move over Punxsutawney Phil. You've got some prognosticating competition.

In the shadow of Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, a young guard of rodents — Woody in Michigan, Gen. Beauregard Lee in Georgia, Sir Walter Wally in North Carolina and Staten Island Chuck in New York — is threatening to give the woodchuck some competition.

"You have to look at the footage and make your own judgment call," said Doug Schwartz, a Staten Island Zoo keeper and weekend caretaker of Staten Island Chuck, one of a handful of prognosticating rodents set to look for their shadows Friday morning.

"I think if you look when our boy's on camera, you can see that he has a certain twinkle in his eye and a certain zest for living that the other groundhogs just plainly don't have," Schwartz added with a bit of New York bravado.

Like a bevy of competing pop divas, each groundhog boasts a distinctive persona projected upon the creature as part of their region's greater Groundhog Day mythos, and each one brags about their record of accuracy

As legend goes, the groundhog will emerge from his (or her) lair on Friday morning. If he sees his shadow and runs away, it means six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog is unafraid, spring is on its way.

At the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Ga., a 14-year-old groundhog named Gen. Beauregard Lee lives out his twilight years in a three-story woodchuck mansion dubbed Weathering Heights, says owner Art Rilling.

"He's got his satellite dish, his wine cellar and his gym," Rilling said. "Everything he needs is inside so he can stay there and be happy."

So Thursday, as Rilling spoke to FOXNews.com, Gen. Lee enjoyed an episode of the old vampire show "Dark Shadows" at home and rested up for the big day.

"When you don't have to work for a living, you don't have any varmits after you, you get good food everyday, vet care, you can live longer than your run of the mill groundhog," Rilling said of his forecaster, who happens to have two honorary doctorates, citations from the National Weather Service and the Georgia governor for his work and a claim of 94 percent accuracy.

In Howell, Mich., about 55 miles from Detroit, a groundhog named Woody was resting in straw for her big prediction. This nearly 9-year-old — who has predicted six out of eight winters correctly — has a secret weapon: She's female.

"Women's intuition, by all means," said Dana DeBenham, wildlife director of the Howell Conference and Nature Center. "And she always has the prerogative to change her mind, although she hasn't changed her mind, so far."

Each groundhog has his or her own way of doing things, and each has their favorite pre-prediction treats.

Woody will get bananas and peanuts as "she likes those better than her rodent blocks and her greens," DeBenham said. Gen. Lee will awaken Friday to a plate of hash browns and Chuck will sup on sweet potatoes, dandelions and broccoli.

Those who make it out to see Chuck, who often takes the bus home with Schwartz and build's nests out of the zookeeper's dirty laundry, should expect some swagger from this groundhog. "Chuck" boasts a 98 percent accuracy rating, though this particular Chuck is only 8-months old.

"He's a New York kind of guy, so whatever it takes to get the job done," Schwartz said. "If he has a little bit of an attitude with a capital 'A' that's alright, as long as he makes good predicitions. See we're after results here."

To that end, Chuck will sleep over at the Schwartz house Thursday night.

"I'll make sure he goes to bed early so that he won't be angry and mutilate any politicans on stage," Schwartz said.

Others, like those who care for Sir Walter Wally at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, try to keep the competition from their critters.

"We keep him in the dark about that — no pun intended," said Jon Pishney, communications director of the museum. "We like to just let him think that he's the top groundhog. I don't think they like the pressure too much."

In Punxsutawney, Pa., the party had already begun Thursday afternoon, with Phil kicked back with his wife, Phyllis, and cousin Barney, while the top-hatted members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle enjoyed their 121st year in the limelight.

"He is resting comfortably, studying the stars and determining the correct prognostication," said Mike Johnston, a member of the Inner Circle nicknamed "Big Flake Maker."

As Chuck, Woody, Sir Walter Wally and Gen. Beau Lee — along with albino prognosticator Wiarton Willie in South Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (unavailable for comment Thursday) — readied themselves for Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil didn't seem fazed by those who would try to usurp him.

"It certainly is a compliment to have imitators across the country, but I don't think he's particularly threatened by them," Johnston said. "I'm not even sure that he perceives it as competition."

I posted this in the "Wear Red" thread but it fits better here, enjoy:

First D.J.: Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today.
Second D.J.: It's coooold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach?
First D.J.: Not hardly. And you know, you can expect hazardous travel later today with that, you know, that, uh, that blizzard thing.
Second D.J.: [mockingly] That blizzard - thing. That blizzard - thing. Oh, well, here's the report! The National Weather Service is calling for a "big blizzard thing!"
First D.J.: Yessss, they are. But you know, there's another reason why today is especially exciting.
Second D.J.: Especially cold!
First D.J.: Especially cold, okay, but the big question on everybody's lips...
Second D.J.: - On their chapped lips...
First D.J.: - On their chapped lips, right: Do ya think Phil is gonna come out and see his shadow?
Second D.J.: Punxsutawney Phil!
First D.J.: Thats right, woodchuck-chuckers - it's
[in unison]
First D.J.: GROUNDHOG DAY!
Second D.J.: GROUNDHOG DAY!

Ned Ryerson: "Ned... Ryerson. "Needlenose Ned"? "Ned the Head"? C'mon, buddy. Case Western High. I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?"

Phil Connors: "This is pitiful. A thousand people freezing their butts off waiting to worship a rat. What a hype. Well, it used to mean something in this town. They used to pull the hog out, and they used to *eat* it. You're hypocrites, all of you! You have a problem with what I'm saying, Larry?"

Phil Connors: "Don't drive angry."

So did Phil see his shadow or what?

Bucking a trend, Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see shadow

Cnn.com


PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A new pair of hands pulled Punxsutawney Phil from his stump this year, so it was only fitting that the groundhog offered a new prediction.

Phil did not see his shadow on Friday, which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.

Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 15 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999. (Fuzzy Phil makes his prediction, the crowd goes wild )

More than 15,000 revelers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction, as fireworks exploded overhead and the "Pennsylvania Polka" and other music blared in the background.

Sammi Gainor, 17, said she and her father first attended the ceremony about four years ago. "Since then it's really been just good memories of things I do together with my dad," she said.

"It's just kind of fun seeing people go so crazy about a groundhog," Richard Gainor said.

Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired and was replaced Friday by Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.

"It's a lot of work, but it's exciting to know you're a part of one of the most phenomenal parts of American folklore," Hughes said.

Each February 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of 6,100 people about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.

The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow February 2 -- the Christian holiday of Candlemas -- winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

Rick McFerron, an administrator at Indiana University of Pennsylvania some 30 miles away, walked the whole way to the ceremony to celebrate his 60th birthday and to raise money for breast cancer research.

He said he was skeptical of the groundhog's prediction.

"It's supposed to get bitter cold this weekend," McFerron said.

Yay Phil!!!!

Yeeess!!!

Camping here I come!

I got a new tent, a new canopy, new sleeping bags, and new walkie talkies to break in this year!!

Woohooooo

(the hand me downs were outdated and gross)

Great! I am about sick of this snow and cold!
I can't complain too much though b/c the start of winter was pretty warm so we were due to get slapped by cold and snow sooner than later. When I left to do my taxes this morning I noticed the Lake is starting to freeze over here which may stop this damn lake effect crap we have been getting.

Does that mean football season will come faster?

We can only hope. But, it does mean FA and the draft will be here before you know it! WOO!
That and I got an e-mail from the WVIZ auction! The auction is always around the draft!

Its a Groundhog Day marathon on Comedy Central today.

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Phil did not see his shadow on Friday, which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.

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As we enter into one of the worst cold snaps in recent memory.

"It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be gray, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life ...."

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On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.

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Was I the only one who had a beavis and butthead like chuckle over that? It sounds like the name of a town in a porn movie.

Heck with those Pennsyvaina rodents, ...We have Buckeye Chuck in Ohio and he say's

SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER?

Under overcast skies, Ohio groundhog Buckeye Chuck failed to see his shadow Friday morning.

According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow on February 2, there will be six weeks of bad weather prior to the arrival of spring; and if he doesn’t, the next six weeks will be mild.

So, you may wonder why we take our weather predictions from a rodent that’s afraid of its own shadow. While it may seem frivolous, Groundhog Day actually has a long and solemn history.
It starts with the ancient observation that hibernating creatures signal the onset of spring by waking up and emerging from their dens.

Romans celebrated the return of light in February (from februa, meaning “to purify”) as a time of cleansing in preparation for a fresh start.



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GROUNDHOG DAY
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A Hebrew tradition required mothers to be purified in the temple 40 days after giving birth. This ritual became part of the Christian tradition when the Virgin Mary underwent purification after the birth of Jesus.
Lighting candles was part of this ritual, and so the festival of lights and the return of spring was called “Candlemas”. This tradition continued with early Christians in Europe.

Early Germans linked this time of new light with weather predictions, using badgers or hedgehogs as the predictor animal. They brought the observance with them when they immigrated to America.

February 2 also has a scientific basis – it is halfway between the first day of winter (December 21) and the first day of spring (March 20).

In the 1800s, a western Pennsylvania newspaper editor declared a groundhog to be the new weatherman -- and Punxsutawney Phil was born.

Since then, many states have promoted their own groundhog characters. In Ohio, a radio personality discovered Buckeye Chuck in Marion, and in 1979, the legislature made it official -- Buckeye Chuck predicts the weather for Ohio.

The groundhog – also called woodchuck or whistle-pig – is a stout rodent brown fur and an appetite for low-growing green vegetation, such as grasses and leaves. They stand upright, looking out for predators and whistling in alarm when one is spotted.

Groundhogs dig dens along forest edges, brushy fencerows, and in grassy fields. A den may be five feet underground and 30 feet long. The den has several rooms where groundhogs raise their young and hibernate.

The groundhog is a true hibernator, relying on body fat for its long winter’s sleep. During hibernation (generally between October and April), it rolls up into a ball; its heartbeat slows, body temperature drops, and respiration decreases. It can lose up to one-half its body weight during this time.

what a poser.

I don't like groundhog day........it makes me long for the opportunity to ........... well.......they are varmints.

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I don't like groundhog day........it makes me long for the opportunity to ........... well.......they are varmints.

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Pop a few with a long range rifle.....LOL..... gound hogs are one tuff varmit...

lol first thing i thought of

It means nothing!