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Punxsutawney Phil offers hope

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Today's meteorologists have all the finest in modern technology. They have updated equipment, the Doppler radar 5000, and there are storm chasers.

But every year when February 2nd rolls around, we suddenly take the word of an overstuffed gopher from Pennsylvania about the forecast. And the verdict is in.

"The sky is clear. Prepare for warmth!" With those rousing words Wednesday morning, the world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, offered hope to millions of Americans being clobbered by a monster winter storm. Phil did not see his shadow in 2011, meaning his prediction is that an early spring is on its way.

All right, Phil didn't actually say those words. Phil "speaks" to his human caretakers, known as the Inner Circle, in Groundhogese and tells them his forecast. The Inner Circle then translates Phil's words for the world to hear — supposedly.

Groundhog Day has become a popular observance in many parts of the United States. Although some states have adopted their own groundhogs, the official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, lives at Gobbler's Knob near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The town has attracted thousands of visitors over the years to experience various Groundhog Day events and activities on February 2.

"Groundhog Day is a lot like a rock concert, but the people are better behaved and there's a groundhog involved," Tom Chapin, editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper, told National Geographic News last Groundhog Day eve.

"There's music and entertainment, spoofs of game shows, and people shooting t-shirts and Beanie Babies" into the crowd, he said.

About 1,217 miles to the south, according to the Miami Herald, the top-hatted, tuxedo-clad members of The Hollywood Beach Bum Chapter of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was one of 58 such organizations nationwide that gathered around televisions to await the annual 7:25 a.m. Feb. 2 prediction.

"Six more weeks of winter in Florida is still six weeks of sun and fun," said Pat Hendrick, of Hollywood Beach Safety. "People from all over the country should come to Florida."

But instead of being glued to the set, the Hollywood Groundhog Day partyers enjoyed breakfast al fresco at Ocean Alley restaurant, then made a mad dash to the surf where they dipped their big toes into the 69-degree water.

Anyway, timeanddate.com explains that thousands of years ago when animalism and nature worship were prevalent, people in the area of Europe now known as Germany believed that the badger had the power to predict the coming of spring.

There were not many badgers in Pennsylvania so the groundhog substituted for him. Of course, tradition says if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2 it will be frightened by it and return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way.

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the United States in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887. It is said that Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. He was called Br'er Groundhog prior to being known as Phil.

Also known as woodchucks, groundhogs are rodents of the marmot genus. Native to most of Canada and the eastern U.S., much like the human male, groundhogs gorge themselves all summer, then hibernate between fall's first frost and the start of spring — with significantly lower heart rates and body temperatures.

Anyway, at least Punxsatawney Phil gives us hope. The last couple of winters have been tough in New Jersey.

Actually, after taking a look at the weather around here, word on the street has it that Punxsatawney Phil came out of his hole and said, "Screw this, I'm booking the next cruise to Bermuda."

Phil is one smart gopher.