Groundhog Day’s Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of WINTER – after PETA called for ‘reveal cake’ replacement

AMERICA'S famous groundhog has spoken in front of a raucous, record-sized crowd at Gobbler's Knob.

Groundhog Day's Punxsutawney Phil predicted there will be six more weeks of winter this year after spotting his shadow.

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One of Phil's top-hatted handlers, speaking on his behalf, said: "It's groundhog day, and maybe life is on a loop. But I miss my burrow and I miss my coop.

"So I'm headed back down, there's a shadow up here. Get ready for six more weeks of winter this year."

If Phil had been unable to see his shadow then an early spring would have been forecast.

Tens of thousands gathered before the dawn on Sunday morning, entertained with a firework show and live music as they waiting for Phil to emerge.

Finally he was brought out, flanked by members of the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle.

Phil communicated his forecast to club president, Tom Dunkel, through "Groundhog-ese", with the help of a special cane that is passed on to each leader.

But not all groundhogs have been treated with such dignity - and there is a dark chapter in the tradition's past.

Groundhog Day is celebration dating back centuries in western Pennsylvania, with even older roots in European folklore, where the special rodent predicts the weather for the following six weeks.

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The ceremony is always on February 2, which falls roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

During the Middle Ages, many people believed that animals such as the badger and the bear would come out of hibernation on this day.

If the day was sunny and the animal saw its shadow, winter would continue for another six weeks.

But if the day was cloudy, people thought the weather during the following weeks would calm down, leading to an early spring.

Every year, tens of thousands of people gather at a small Pennsylvania town some 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to see the town's rodent meteorologist.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) compared national temperatures in the six weeks after February 2 over the last 10 years to determine how accurate Phil's predictions really are, as reported by .

Phil got it right last year in 2024 when he predicted an early spring.

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In the last decade, the groundhog correctly predicted the weather only twice — in 2020 and 2015.

This indicates an accuracy rate of 30%, but it's not all Phil's fault.

"Predicting the arrival of springtime for an entire country—especially one with varied regional climates like the United States—isn’t easy," wrote NOAA.

FAMOUS FATHER

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the Groundhog Club announced that Phil and his wife, Phyllis, welcomed two healthy baby groundhogs.

"We have Babies!!" the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club announced on their Instagram.

The duo were born on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Predicting the arrival of springtime for an entire country—especially one with varied regional climates like the United States—isn’t easy.

NOAA

"The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is very excited to announce that Phil and Phyllis have given birth to two healthy baby Groundhogs!"

Baby groundhogs, also called kits, pups, or cubs, grow up relatively fast, becoming independent after about three months.

"The babies are currently in with mom and dad at the zoo that is located at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, and can be viewed thru the viewing window!"

VEGAN CAKE?

Meanwhile, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals recently proposed a new way to celebrate Groundhog's Day that lets Punxsutawney Phil and his family retire.

The non-profit animal organization said they're willing to deliver a vegan cake to Punxsutawney Phil's home each Groundhog Day — forever.

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But only as long as Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club agrees to let the famous groundhog and his family live on at a reputable sanctuary.

The "weather dessert" cake mimics the style of a gender reveal cake, with blue signifying six more weeks of winter and pink indicating an early spring.