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The world's most famous groundhog saw
his shadow Monday morning, predicting this already long winter will
last for six more weeks.
      

Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn in front of an
estimated 13,000 witnesses, many dressed in black-and-gold to
celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl victory the night
before.
      


"There's significant buzz from the Steelers win and quite a few
Terrible Towels floating from the crowd," said Mickey Rowley,
deputy secretary for tourism in Pennsylvania.
      


The annual ritual takes place on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in
Punxsutawney, a borough of about 6,100 residents some 65 miles
northeast of Pittsburgh.
      


The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club announced the forecast in a
short proclamation, in which Phil acknowledged the Steelers' 27-23
win over the Arizona Cardinals.
      

According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts
a shadow on Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter
will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said
spring would come early.
      


Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15
times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
      


Rowley said the Groundhog Day festivities is Pennsylvania's
largest tourist gathering in the winter. And if Phil's forecast
proves correct it should bring even more tourists to the state.
      

"It's six more weeks of skiing," Rowley said.
      

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The world's most famous groundhog saw
his shadow Monday morning, predicting this already long winter will
last for six more weeks.

Punxsutawney Phil Makes An Appearance On Groundhog

Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, winter to continue

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