Why the Groundhog?
Since a groundhog (or woodchuck or "whistle pig") hibernates for the winter, its coming out of the ground is a natural sign of spring. In Europe centuries ago, people watched for other hibernating animals, including badgers, bears, and hedgehogs, as signs of winter's end. Germans who immigrated to Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s began keeping an eye on the groundhog. The widespread population of the rodent made it a handy agent for this particular weather superstition.
Punxsutawney Phil and Friends
In the 1880s some friends in Punxsutawney, Penn., went into the woods on Candlemas Day to look for groundhogs. This outing became a tradition, and a local newspaper editor nicknamed the seekers "the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." Starting in 1887 the search became an official event centered on a groundhog called Punxsutawney Phil. A ceremony still takes place every year.
Today Punxsutawney Phil lives in a climate-controlled habitat adjoining the Punxsutawney Library. A local celebrity, he gained national fame in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day (which was shot in scenic Woodstock, Illinois). The weather-watching rodent's predictions are recorded in the Congressional Records of our National Archive. So far, Phil has seen his shadow about 85% of the time.
Canada's Groundhog Day relies on the predictions of an albino groundhog named Wiarton Willie. Although Punxsutawney Phil gets the most attention, various American cities have their own special groundhogs; New York City's official groundhog is called "Pothole Pete."
15- MERRYEVERYTHING (GAIL)
02- TUDI7777 & MERRYEVERYTHING
03- ZIP S A MISFIT & IM THUNDER STRUCK
04- 6PM- SUPERDAVE122003 & MERRYEVERYTHING
6:30PM - JIM 29440 & PAGONS69
05- PJEANWIL & IM THUNDER STRUCK
06- TUDI7777 & LILOBELL05 & PAGONS69 (SUB)
07- SUPERDAVE122003 & MERRYEVERYTHING &
DIXIE DARLING 69 & SHADOWS NDA DARK
08- DIXIE DARLING 69 & JIM 29440
09- JIM 29440 & MIGGLE
10- XOX TWINKCT XOX & MS ROLLING THUNDER ROCKS
(MS SUB 4 LAMBIE)
11- MAGGIE IN THUNDER & SHADOWS NDA DARK
12- JIM 29440 & DUSTYJAKE
13- SHADOWS NDA DARK & ZIP S A MISFIT (TOC WINNERS)
14- DIXIE DARLING 69 & ZIP S A MISFIT
15- FXYSTILL & ZIP S A MISFIT
16- ZIP S A MISFIT & BARBIE N THUNDER
17- FXYSTILL & SANSOOWARIOR
18- DOT LUVS ROLLIN THUNDER & JIM 29440
19- DOT LUVS ROLLIN THUNDER & JIM 29440
20- DUE WESTERN SPADER & IM THUNDER STRUCK
21- ZIP S A MISFIT & IM THUNDER STRUCK
22- PJEANWILL & POOHBEAR2627
23- PJEANWILL & SHADOWS NDA DARK
24- CINDYH AUSTX SPADES & ZIP S A MISFIT
25- SWEETPATTIEANN & SHADOWS NDA DARK
26- LONESTARLADY64 & BAMASUPERSLAMMA
27- PAGONS69 & SHADOWS NDA DARK
28- MRS PAGONS69 & DOT LUVZ ROLLIN THUNDER