Introducing Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvanian groundhog!!

Back in South Africa, I'd heard about Groundhog Day, but never quite understood it's meaning, and what the heck is a Groundhog anyway???

Well, today is Groundhog Day, and in true 'American Tale' fashion, I have delved into the history of this special day so as to enrich your lives and impart knowledge! (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

Let's see....it started off in Germany, where farmers waited till late in the winter months to see the hedgehog come out from his underground home. If the hedgehog saw his own shadow on a sunny day, then that meant another long six weeks of winter were still ahead. And back in his hole he went!

Years later, German settlers in Pennsylvania, brought the old belief with them, and the hedgehog was replaced with the American groundhog.

Today there is a very famous groundhog residing in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. His name is Punxsutawney Phil. Every year, residents and paparazzi await anxiously to see what Punxsutawney Phil's prediction will be.

Will he see his shadow, and sentence us to another 6 weeks of winter, or will there be an early Spring this year.

This is serious stuff here people!!

Anyway, here is this years prediction, as per Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania............

Greetings from Punxsutawney!


Phil Says Six More Weeks!
Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2010 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:


Hear Ye Hear Ye Hear Ye
On Gobbler's Knob on this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2010, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators awoke to the call of President Bill Deeley and greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.


After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed, "If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be."

(That's not my words by the way, that's actually on the official website!)

So there you have it. If you didn't know, now you know!

Here's a little more about Punxsutawney Phil, in case you are interested........