It’s February 2nd, Groundhog Day, and only apropos for the Pic of The Day. Who doesn’t have this event on their bucket list? Don’t answer that! My brother Jim and his wife Gail have resided in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (aka The Weather Capital of the World) for 32 years and provided their photos to me and now to you.
I visited Punxsutawney a few times and learned a little about their famous Groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil. Locals call the place Punxsy for short. Phil, the spoiled marmot resides in the city terrarium that surrounds the local library. I saw two Phil’s running around in the terrarium and was told that the other one was his mate, Phyllis. The person I talked to said Phil is taken from the terrarium, driven in a limo up to Gobbler’s Knob where he is placed in the pre-warmed stump up on the stage.
He stays in there until the president of the “Inner Circle” taps his cane on the stump and calls for him. He is brought out and held up for the crowd to see, then placed on the stump where he and the president speaking "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world. Jim and Gail said the festivities start early in the day around 3 AM where a few members of the Inner Circle act as DJ's and keep the crowd entertained. People then come up to the stage and sing, or dance or entertain.
A fireworks display kicks off around 6:45 AM. Then at 7 AM or so, the Inner Circle make their way down the path to the stage. They get introduced and help get the crowd cheering and ready for Phil to make his presence known with lots of chants of more winter or early spring. At 7:25 AM Phil, the rockstar prognosticator emerges from the stump and his prediction is announced.
Parking in town leaves you with a walk up to the Knob of nearly a mile, though a fee for a shuttle service bus will take you directly to the stage area. There is a Visitors Center in town that has a few hands-on activities for kids, and lots of educational information on Groundhog Day, plus the obligatory souvenirs for sale.
Apparently, the tradition of Groundhog Day in Punxsy started in 1887 and stems from the Germans’ Candlemas Day, but the Germans used a hedgehog. But since it was probably a bit difficult for early Pennsylvania Dutch settlers to stumble across a wild hedgehog, they settled on a more easily found groundhog instead. I did have a friendly hedgehog in my flower bed for years in my home in Germany.
Swarms of gnats plagued early settlers in Punxsy and their livestock for years, and are blamed for eventually driving the early Native Americans away. They called the insects ponkies (living dust and ashes) and called their village Ponkis Utenink (land of the ponkies), from which the present name Punxsutawney evolved. The lore described that clear weather on Groundhog Day and Phil seeing his shadow would mean six more weeks of winter rather than the alternative outcome which would signal an early Spring. Rumor has it that Gobbler’s Knob got its name from flocks (aka rafters) of turkeys that frequented the area. Last year was the first time the event wasn’t open to the public due to COVID.
Punxsutawney is located approximately 85 northeast of my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Currently in 2022 the event is scheduled for a “GO” unless the Pennsylvania Governor declares otherwise.
There are no trains or planes that get you to Punxsutawney. Used to be buses, but I believe that transportation method is no longer. The few available lodging places are snapped up very early as Groundhog Day nears. Largest crowd according to Gail was the year after the movie Groundhog Day premiered. There are local clubs offering breakfast, like the Eagles Club or Punxsy Phil's restaurant with great omelets and everyone loves their home fried potatoes. A great lunch spot is Neko's with sumptuous salads, Italian dishes, lots of delicious desserts, (chocolate cake to die for) and don't forget to stop and buy some groundhog cookies to take home, spicy molasses ones or sugar ones.
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