Groundhog Day 2009: Punxsutawney Phil Sees His Shadow (VIDEO)

Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog, has seen his shadow this Groundhog Dog 2009. That means winter, according to Phil, will last another six weeks.

Groundhog Day 2009: Punxsutawney Phil’s Prediction

Punxsutawney Phil came out early Monday morning as a crowd of 13,000 looked on in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The groundhog does his annual deed on a hill known as Gobbler’s Knob.

The official Groundhog Day 2009 forecast:

Hear Ye Hear Ye

On Gobbler’s Knob this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2009

Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators

Awoke to the call of President Bill Cooper

And greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths

After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers,

Phil proclaimed that his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers were World Champions one more time

And a bright sky above me

Showed my shadow beside me.

So 6 more weeks of winter it will be.

Groundhog Day 2009 Video

Groundhog Day: The Big Picture

Groundhog Day is considered Pennsylvania’s largest tourist attraction of the winter. The whole thing goes back to an old German superstition about an animal in hibernation. Legend has is that if such an animal casts a shadow on the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which is on February 2, winter will last another six weeks. If the shadow is missing, spring is on the way.

Phil has seen his shadow the vast majority of the Groundhog Days over the past century and beyond. Ninety-seven Groundhog Days have ended with a winter prediction, while only 15 recorded ones have ended with Phil seeing no shadow and calling for spring.

Punxsutawney is about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. It’s home to 6,100 people.