Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring

In keeping with tradition for another year, Phil the groundhog finished his hibernation and came out of his burrow to determine if winter has six more weeks left or if spring will come early. The neighbors met this Thursday in Punxsutawney (Pennsylvania) to know the verdict of the furry creature. The commemoration takes place every year on February 2.

This year, the prediction is the following: spring is anticipated. According to tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Otherwise, spring comes early. Punxsutawney's 'inner circle' reconvened their followers at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob, next to the tree where the groundhog lives.

The 'inner circle' is a group of local dignitaries who are responsible for planning the event, as well as feeding and caring for the groundhog. Groundhog Day has its origins in a German legend about a furry rodent. The event attracts thousands of people to the town every year.

"The Christian religious holiday of Candlemas Day has become most commonly associated with the current celebration, but it's roots are older than that. The celebration started in Christianity as the day, (February 2nd), when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. This, they felt, would bring blessings to their household for the remaining winter," explains the Groundhog Club of Pennsylvania.

Additionally, the club details that "In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler's Knob. Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world."

According to some theories, Groundhog Day is also strongly linked to the film Groundhog Day (Spell in Time and Groundhog Day in Latin America and Trapped in Time in Spain), a film starring Bill Murray in the role of Phil, a television station weatherman who is sent to Punxsutawney for another year to cover the Groundhog Day festival. On the return trip, Phil and his team are surprised by a storm that forces them to return to the small town in a succession of jumps in time that leads them to repeat the celebration of Groundhog Day over and over again.