Monday, February 02, 2009

Punxsutawney or Punk'd Sutawney?

Associated Press

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow this morning, predicting this already long winter will last for six more weeks....

According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 ... winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Rowley said the Groundhog Day festivities is Pennsylvania's largest tourist gathering in the winter. And if Phil's forecast proves correct it should bring even more tourists to the state.

"It's six more weeks of skiing," Rowley said.

* * *

Is it just me? Ninety-seven times out of 112 (we can't guess which way on the 9 years the records weren't kept or were lost), old Philiable has predicted six more weeks of skiing in Steeler Country. Does anyone else but a member of the Royal Order of Punxsatawney Groundhog and Tourism Board get close enough to the animal see his shadow?