Punxsutawney Phil "predicts" early Spring

[apackof2]

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Early Spring
By Associated Press
1 hour ago

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - A new pair of hands pulled Punxsutawney Phil from his stump this year, so it was only fitting that the groundhog offered a new prediction.

Phil did not see his shadow on Friday which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.

Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.

More than 15,000 revelers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction, as fireworks exploded overhead and the "Pennsylvania Polka" and other music blared in the background.

Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired after more than a dozen years and was replaced Friday by Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.

Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.

The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on Feb. 2 _ the Christian holiday of Candlemas _ winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

___

On the Net: http://www.groundhog.org

[apackof2]

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Early Spring
By Associated Press
1 hour ago

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - A new pair of hands pulled Punxsutawney Phil from his stump this year, so it was only fitting that the groundhog offered a new prediction.

Phil did not see his shadow on Friday which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.

Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.

More than 15,000 revelers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction, as fireworks exploded overhead and the "Pennsylvania Polka" and other music blared in the background.

Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired after more than a dozen years and was replaced Friday by Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.

Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.

The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on Feb. 2 _ the Christian holiday of Candlemas _ winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

___

On the Net: http://www.groundhog.org

[Hitchhiker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>



I'm ready!

[paz]

Phil was probably counting on some help from global warming to hurry spring along.

[apackof2]

Oh sure

Here is central Michigan global warming is in full swing, its a balmy 8 degrees with a chill index of -20


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by paz:
Phil was probably counting on some help from global warming to hurry spring along. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[WaveMaker]

i saw Phil, must of been about 20 yrs ago, my dad had taken me... i used to live in Bangor Pa.
it was pretty neat back then, it must be realy neat now...
hes pretty funny he didnt see his shadow, my sister had called me and said it was snowing in bangor... go figure...

[paz]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by apackof2:
Oh sure

Here is central Michigan global warming is in full swing, its a balmy 8 degrees with a chill index of -20

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[mamaloya]

It snowed here at Ft. Bragg, NC Thursday morning. The kids loved it. I have pictures on my website.

Family webpage

[Traveling Texans]

He nailed it! 26 Feb. 000007 and it was 86 degres.