Did you know today is Groundhog Day?
Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow?
Since the 1800's a group of people in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania have been looking for signs of an early spring or six more weeks of winter like weather. The tradition began when a group of people got together to look for groundhogs in the area and grew to become a more celebrated event. Today the group called "The Inner Circle" dressing in tuxedos and wearing smart looking top hats can be seen at the annual ceremony featuring the famed "Punxsutawney Phil" groundhog. The story goes, Phil is helped by the group to the top of his stump after awakening the first thing in the morning. Phil's handlers from the inner circle communicate with him and before the ceremony occurs, two paper scrolls are created with a proclamation of either early spring or a continued winter. In 1993 hollywood made a comedy about a cynical tv weatherman that travels to the small town of Punxsutawney to cover the annual event and becomes trapped in a loop of time that made him relive every February 2nd. The movie starred actor Bill Murray and actress Andie Mcdowell and was produced and directed by Harold Ramis. The holiday has since been remembered along side this comedy and the movies commercial success has also increased the number of people in attendance at the annual event.
INTERESTING FACTS
The popular movie "Groundhog Day", had a great box office success with 70.9 million box office gross.
Groundhogs are also known as Woodchucks.
The elaborate burrowing tunnels of groundhogs include their own bathroom area.
Groundhogs are the largest species in the squirrel family.
Cantaloupe is groundhogs favorite food and is commonly used as bait to trap them by frustrated people dealing with the destruction of the groundhogs burrowing.