Groundhog Day 2019: How old is Punxsutawney Phil? Age of the groundhog revealed
GROUNDHOG Day is all about Punxsutawney Phil who predicts what weather will see for the rest of the year, but how old is the famous groundhog?
Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter
Punxsutawney Phil is the groundhog who emerges from his borough in Pennsylvania to predict whether we will have six more weeks of winter-like weather. Punxsutawney is located in Western Pennsylvania, about 80 miles north-east of Pittsburgh. If Phil does not see his shadow, he has predicted an “early spring” but if he does sees his shadow and returns to his hole, he has predicted six more weeks of winter.
Phil is at least 132 years old, according to the Inner Circle of the Groundhog Club in Punxsutawney.
However this would physically be impossible as each ancient groundhog lives to be between six and eight years.
He reportedly takes a magical potion each summer to extend his lifespan.
The magical elixir also changes his appearance, which explains why Phil may be grey one year and a youthful brown the next.
He is fed the potion every summer at the annual Groundhog Picnic that apparently extends his life for another seven years.
The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2, 1886, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
It was announced in The Punxsutawney Spirit by the newspaper’s editor, Clymer Freas.
“Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow.”
The legendary first Groundhog Day trip to Gobbler’s Knob was made the following year by a group of spirited groundhog hunters who dubbed themselves ‘The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.’
With the creation of the club came the rise of Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog being elevated to global celebrity status.
He weighs about 20 pounds and he is 22 inches long, while the average groundhog weighs 12-15 pounds and is 20 inches long.
If it is cloudy when the groundhog emerges from his hole on February 2, he will leave the burrow and the US can expect an early spring.
Whereas if it is sunny and groundhog sees his shadow, he will return to his burrow, and we can expect six more weeks of winter.
Once Phil has made his decision, legend says he speaks to the president of the Groundhog Club in a secret language called “Groundhogese.”
The president then translates the prediction for news cameras, visitors and people all over the country.
Phil’s big day is February 2, and during the rest of the year, he lives in the Punxsutawney Library with his wife Phyllis.