In 2010, groundhogs differ on winter’s end opinions

In the long dearth of holidays between Christmas and Easter, Americans get a bit hard up for traditions.

This may be why an estimated 12,000 people gathered this morning in the freeze-your-ass-off town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to observe the century old tradition of predicting the length of this winter based on whether a groundhog “sees his shadow.” Many years after first learning of the tradition in elementary school, it makes about as much sense now as it did then. And winter has always ended on March 19th, whether or not the groundhog declared it so.

In 2010, Punxsutawney Phil apparently did see his shadow, so winter will end on the day winter ends per Phil’s ultra-scientific method. However, local rival Staten Island Chuck is said to have not seen his shadow, and like everyone else from New York, Chuck is right 80% more often than groundhogs in the flyover states. Going by last year’s account, Chuck also apparently has the friendly, outgoing demeanor for which New Yorkers have come to be known:

However, when the mayor tried to coax Chuck out of his little Groundhog Day house, the Staten Island Advance reports, “Chuck snapped at the mayor’s hand, grabbed the tasty treat and ran back in. As Bloomberg reached for him, the groundhog tried hiding in the corner before eventually being lifted out.”