!["Seer of seers, and sage of sages," the famous four-footed, furry rodent passes along his prediction for the onset of spring in "groundhogese" to a protective member of the Inner Circle, a group of handlers dedicated to keeping the spirit of the celebration alive from year to year. The pampered groundhog, having performed his duty early this morning, presumably now gets to return to his burrow to rest until spring really arrives.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/7b/4c/7b4c94c6718deff6dc9aa1fd2fc2de77.jpg?itok=gC5VWwkh ""Seer of seers, and sage of sages," the famous four-footed, furry rodent passes along his prediction for the onset of spring in "groundhogese" to a protective member of the Inner Circle, a group of handlers dedicated to keeping the spirit of the celebration alive from year to year. The pampered groundhog, having performed his duty early this morning, presumably now gets to return to his burrow to rest until spring really arrives.")
![A "sleepy" groundhog perches on the shoulder of one of his tuxedo-wearing, top hatted handlers to survey the crowds gathered to hear his "prediction" early this morning. This was the 127th such celebration held in Gobbler's Knob, Penn., and folks all around the country await the news each Feb. 2. Though there are other famous groundhog prognosticators, "Phil" is the greatest, according to all rankings.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/bb/16/1359816845_1580_Handler%20John%20Griffiths%20-%20Alex%20Wong.jpg?itok=y7SYQeEZ "A "sleepy" groundhog perches on the shoulder of one of his tuxedo-wearing, top hatted handlers to survey the crowds gathered to hear his "prediction" early this morning. This was the 127th such celebration held in Gobbler's Knob, Penn., and folks all around the country await the news each Feb. 2. Though there are other famous groundhog prognosticators, "Phil" is the greatest, according to all rankings."){kind=small}
That famous furry rodent, Punxsutawney Phil was out of his burrow at daybreak this morning in Gobbler’s Knob Penn., and there was no way he could have cast a shadow -- so, as the folklore has it, spring is destined to arrive early this year. Those of us in North Texas have had a taste of that delightful weather; but those in more northern latitudes are still stuck in the deepfreeze.
But, today there is renewed hope, at least in some quarters, that the end of winter is within reach. It's an early year for other things, as well -- Mardi Gras, coming in just 10 days, and Easter after that. So, it would seem fitting that Mother Nature might see fit to grace this globe with an early warming also.
However, Punxsutawney Phil is traditionally wrong more than he is right; so, the best course might be simply to enjoy the fun of this particular celebration which has been going on in a sleepy little town in Pennsylvania since 1887. But, be sure to keep those boots and fleece-lined parkas handy, just in case.
![A "sleepy" groundhog perches on the shoulder of one of his tuxedo-wearing, top hatted handlers to survey the crowds gathered to hear his "prediction" early this morning. This was the 127th such celebration held in Gobbler's Knob, Penn., and folks all around the country await the news each Feb. 2. Though there are other famous groundhog prognosticators, "Phil" is the greatest, according to all rankings.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/bb/16/1359816845_1580_Handler%20John%20Griffiths%20-%20Alex%20Wong.jpg?itok=e1bZOJlq "A "sleepy" groundhog perches on the shoulder of one of his tuxedo-wearing, top hatted handlers to survey the crowds gathered to hear his "prediction" early this morning. This was the 127th such celebration held in Gobbler's Knob, Penn., and folks all around the country await the news each Feb. 2. Though there are other famous groundhog prognosticators, "Phil" is the greatest, according to all rankings.")
!["Seer of seers, and sage of sages," the famous four-footed, furry rodent passes along his prediction for the onset of spring in "groundhogese" to a protective member of the Inner Circle, a group of handlers dedicated to keeping the spirit of the celebration alive from year to year. The pampered groundhog, having performed his duty early this morning, presumably now gets to return to his burrow to rest until spring really arrives.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/ac/1a/ac1ac17e4133e638de435d6a277c411c.jpg?itok=m2E97TS4 ""Seer of seers, and sage of sages," the famous four-footed, furry rodent passes along his prediction for the onset of spring in "groundhogese" to a protective member of the Inner Circle, a group of handlers dedicated to keeping the spirit of the celebration alive from year to year. The pampered groundhog, having performed his duty early this morning, presumably now gets to return to his burrow to rest until spring really arrives.")
![The historical marker proclaims the establishment of the Groundhog Club in 1899, although the tradition surrounding this particular celebration is much older than that. Members of today's "Inner Circle" wake Punxsutawney Phil from the comfort of his hibernation to perpetuate the superstition every year. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, spring should make an early appearance. All Phil wants, perhaps, is to go back to sleep. Silly humans!](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/b8/4b/b84b023c5307ff4d29502aee1e52bed9.jpg?itok=uM2kqVGh "The historical marker proclaims the establishment of the Groundhog Club in 1899, although the tradition surrounding this particular celebration is much older than that. Members of today's "Inner Circle" wake Punxsutawney Phil from the comfort of his hibernation to perpetuate the superstition every year. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, spring should make an early appearance. All Phil wants, perhaps, is to go back to sleep. Silly humans!")
Comments