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Punxsutawney Phil: 6 More Weeks of Winter

Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - The world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged before chilly revelers in western Pennsylvania on Tuesday to see his shadow, a sign his handlers say means winter will last another six weeks.

Some 12,000 people gathered before dawn to await his weather forecast. They came from as far as Chile and the Netherlands, braving a chilly 18 degrees Fahrenheit to see the more than century-old ritual.

German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

The Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club annually announces Phil’s forecast at dawn on Gobbler’s Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

The Groundhog Club says that since 1887 Phil and his predecessors have predicted more winter weather by seeing their shadow nearly 100 times, but there are no records for nine years.

Several other Groundhog Day celebrations are held around the United States. A high-profile rival delivered a different prediction on Tuesday, with New York City media reporting that “Staten Island Chuck” did not see his shadow.

Thousands gather before dawn to witness Pa. groundhog’s forecast

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35194650/ns/weather/

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Tags: Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, weather

Staten Island’s Famous Groundhog Chuck Calls for an Early Spring

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It’s official — or as official as groundhogs can make a prediction: We’ll see an early spring this year.

Lured out of his house, Charles G. Hogg, better known as Staten Island Chuck, did not see his shadow and declared that winter will be over in two weeks.

“No shadow,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “Spring is coming.”

Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, meanwhile — called for six more weeks of winter.

With all eyes on the pair with a rich history, Chuck did not bite Hizzoner today, instead acting as a sophisticated rodent.

“I think I have to be magnanimous and say that he put up a good fight,” Bloomberg quipped after it took a few minutes to coax — more like drag — Chuck out of his winter home

“I think it’s clear who the champion really was. Last year, I was willing to put that finger, right here, in the way to protect the people of this great borough. The only thing that stood between Chuck and you getting bitten was my finger and I have a scar to prove exactly how much I love one of the five best boroughs we have.”

The mayor donned heavy work animal-handling gloves this year after last year’s leather proved no match for the groundhog.

It didn’t seem like spring — it was cold at the Zoo with temperatures in the mid-20s this morning. Chuck’s prediction will get an early test with about an inch of snow forecast for tonight and another storm possible Friday night.

Children, their parents and curious onlookers started gathering early as the gates opened at about 6:45 a.m.

“I want him to say spring — it’s freezing,” Michelle Sulkin, 9, of Grasmere said before the ceremony began.

Her friend Jessica Maizer, 10, of Dongan Hills, disagreed.

“I like winter,” she said, adding that she had just been ice skating over the weekend.

In the moments leading up to the ceremony, children began chanting ‘We want Chuck’ as Bloomberg took his place on the podium. Advance Editor Brian Laline presided over the ceremony and a number of other elected officials and community leaders were on hand.

Albert Cardone, 8, of West Brighton, brought a First Aid kit in case Bloomberg needed medical attention.

“I’m pretty much ready for the sun,” he said, revealing his desire for winter to end.

Groundhog Day stems from the ancient belief that hibernating creatures were able to predict the arrival of springtime by their emergence. The German immigrants known as the Pennsylvania Dutch brought the tradition to the United States in the 18th century.

Had Chuck seen his shadow, it would have signified six more weeks of winter.

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/staten_islands_famous_groundho.html

Tags: groundhog chuck, Groundhog Day, staten island chuck