PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA—Who’s ready for six more weeks of winter?
On Thursday morning, February 2, 2023, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow and predicted that there would be six more weeks of winter.
The popular Groundhog Day tradition, which is celebrated in the United States and in Canada, derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; but if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.
According to records dating back to 1887, Phil has predicted winter more than 100 times, according to the Associated Press. Ten years were lost because no records were kept.
According to the full proclamation from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, “I see a shadow on my stage, and so no matter how you measure, it’s six more weeks of winter weather.”
Video from Thursday’s event at Gobbler’s Knob can be viewed online here.
