Watch Groundhog Day 2024: Punxsutawney Phil declares an early spring
Punxsutawney Phil, the renowned groundhog who's been predicting when winter will end since 1887, says things are about to warm up.
"Glad tidings on this Groundhog Day. An early spring is on the way," a proclamation was read out at Gobbler's Knob, elating a crowd of thousands of people who had weathered dark and cold to see the famous rodent.
Masses of people came to Punxsutawney, Pa., to see the small town's famous groundhog perform his annua duty in person. But even more visited online to see live video streamed from the event.
The event is being livestreamed on PCNTV, a Pennsylvania nonprofit, and by The Associated Press.
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It all comes with a caveat.
"On average, Phil has gotten it right 40 percenr of the time over the past 10 years," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last year.
Could anything symbolize our era more than legions of people using smartphones to learn whether a prognosticating rodent is predicting six more weeks of winter?
That's Groundhog Day in 2024 — a mix of modern technology with traditions that date back to ancient Celtic times.
The practice of seeking a sign of an early spring or a late winter stems from the Christian tradition of Candlemas — which itself has roots in pagan observances.
"Candlemas was originally a Celtic festival marking the 'cross-quarter day,' or midpoint of the season," according to the Almanac website. "The Sun is halfway on its advance from the winter solstice to the spring equinox."
By celebrating this groundhog, in other words, we're celebrating the return of the light, and the promise of spring.
Groundhogs — also called the woodchuck, land beaver, whistle pig, or red monk — were drafted into service for the day when Europeans realized the hibernating animal they associated with spring's arrival in the old country, a type of badger, wasn't native to North America.
If the animal sees its shadow, the tradition goes, it means six more weeks of winter, and he (or she) returns to their burrow. If there is no shadow, the animal stays put, signaling an early spring.
Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous example of the forecasting animals, having been on the job since 1887. Other groundhogs, and even other animals, are also consulted to know when winter will be over.
There's no Groundhog Day joy in Milltown, N.J., again this year, where Milltown Mel died before he could make his prediction in 2022. The town's efforts to replace him have run into legal snags.
Events around the big reveal in Punxsutawney have grown over the years, along with wide media interest and corporate sponsors. The schedule for Groundhog Day in 2024 ranges from a "Lunch With Phil" to a talent show, a Groundhog ball and a banquet, culminating in "Hogspitality Village" and another event titled simply, "Party All Night!"
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