How exactly is Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day? This is how he stacks up to weather -expensive animals.

In the cold early hours on Sunday, February 2, “SEERS OF SEALS” OUT OF HIS CLACKLY HOOK IN GOBLER’S DROUND BUTTON IN PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA., To preach if there will be six weeks more weeks of winter weather. This prognostic is none other than Punxsutawney Phil – one of America’s most beloved furry marmots.

It works like this: If the sun is shining, and Phil Earth Do See his shadow, he takes it as “a sign of six weeks more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole,” according to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

If it is cloudy and phil Don’t do it See his shadow, he will remain above the ground, which means there will be an early spring.

While top hated dressed members of Phil’s “inner circle” claims that his predictions are always accurate, the road experts say the success rate for “Weather Profeten Extraordinary”, which has been predicting since 1887, is not always accurate, according to The Farmers’ Almanac.

While Phil is undoubtedly the most well -known weather -expensive critic, he is not the only one. Everywhere in the American colleague Groundhogs – Live and Taxidermied – Plus a Prairie Dog -Statue, Ducks, Alligator and Turtle are in the fun tradition.

This year National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ranked the accuracy of 19 of these critters based on the following criteria: They must have prognosticating for at least 20 years and must have been active from February 2, 2024.

Here are the results … drum roller, please:

How Punxsutawney Phil stacked up against the competition

You may be surprised to find out that Punxsutawney Phil landed No. 17 out of 19 on the list of 35% accuracy. Meanwhile, Staten Iceland Won Chuck, who lives in New Yorks Staten Island Zoo, the top place with 85% accuracy. The runner was General Bearategard Lee from Georgia with 80% accuracy.

Lander Lil, which is a statue of a prairie dog residing because of the local post office in Lander, WY., Also make the list with 75% accuracy.

Around the bottom of the list of No. 19, Mojave Max, a turtle in Nevada, was with 25% accuracy.

What’s the matter with Groundhog who sees his shadow?

February 2, the mid -term point between winter solar and spring marks Equinox. The origin of Groundhog Day, which is marked every year on the same date, is associated with the old pagan festival in Imbolc, which celebrates this mid -term point and the season change.

Groundhog Day is also rooted in an old European Christian party known as Candlemas Day (February 2nd), which happens halfway through winter and spring. It recalls the presentation of Jesus by the Temple of Jerusalem as a light to the people of Israel. Christians traditionally take their lights to the church to be blessed and spent the rest of the year.

The weather on Candlemas day was also observed to predict the start of spring. According to to an old English song:

If Candlemas is fair and light,

Winter has another flight.

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Winter will not come again.

This is why according to tradition, if it is a bright and sunny day, and Groundhog sees his shade, there will be six weeks more in winter. If it’s a cloudy day and Groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

Why was a Groundhog selected?

In the old European weatherlor National Weather Service.

When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they also brought their Candlemas traditions and used animals to predict the weather. Without badgers found in Pennsylvania, they used Groundhogs resident in the area to perform the prognostication.

In 1886, a local Punxsutawney newspaper editor, Clymer Freas, was also part of Punxsutawney Groundhog Clubthat started as a Groundhog hunting club. Fras is credited by starting the holidays on February 2nd, 1886, after writing an article in the Punxsutawney spirit that claimed that Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil could predict the weather. Phil’s fame began to spread as other newspapers all over the world began to report on his weather forecasts.

The first official trek for Gobbler’s dial in Punxsutawney happened the next year on February 2, 1887, when Groundhog saw his shadow. Phil’s weather forecasts have exploded in popularity, especially after the 1993 movie Groundhog Day Contributing Bill Murray. Now Thousands of people Collect every year on Gobbler’s dial to witness what “viewer of viewers” has to preach.