Sunday, February 1, 2009

Weekly Question

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. So Happy Groundhog Day!

When I was in college I went to Punxsutawney, PA with friends to see if Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, would see his shadow. It was quite a road trip. We left in the wee hours of the morning for our destination. We were all bundled up and ready to see Phil...along with thousands of other people. It's quite a big deal in PA!

After all the excitement...we had to haul-ass back for classes.

For more info about Groundhog Day...

http://www.groundhog.org/
Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the holiday:

Yes! Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors.

How often is Phil's prediction correct? 100% of the time, of course!

How many "Phils" have there been over the years? There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 120 years!

Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.

On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

No! Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.

The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887.

So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog.

AND NOW FOR THE QUESTION...Finally!

Did you ever take any crazy road trips in college?

1 comment:

Amber said...

To the county line of Lousiana and Arkansas to buy mixed drinks in huge styrophome cups, through a drive through!