This morning, February 2, at the international Groundhog Day, the famous rodent, nicknamed Phil from Punxsutawney (PA) made his annual prediction, announcing US residents about the arrival of early spring.
Happy Groundhog Day On February 2, 2019
Gobbler’s Knob! #GroundhogDay
#GroundhogDay2019 pic.twitter.com/HZoafYlRUF
— Mark Eberle (@patcnews_com) February 2, 2019
Early on a cold morning to the hill, Gobbler-Nob arrived, thousands of tourists and locals, as well as members of the club Inner Circle (Inner circle), traditionally dressed in black coats and top hats. About 7:25 a.m. everyone started to chant «We want Phil» and «Phil, Phil, Phil,» to Wake up the Groundhog. But Phil didn’t want to go, so the Rangers had to push him out of the warm hole. The 10-pound Groundhog was not funny, but he honestly did his job and to the delight of all predicted an early spring.
«Faithful followers, I don’t cast a shadow, and it will be a great spring,» — was solemnly read out a member of the Inner Circle of the scroll with the prediction of the main meteorologist of the country.
February 2, 2019, the largest crowd in the 133 years of celebrating Groundhog Day on Candlemas Day (halfway through winter) gathered at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to determine if Phil would see his shadow. He did not. That means there will be an early Spring!!! pic.twitter.com/OrAsRqRGoT
— DavidArnett (@DavidArnett) February 2, 2019
According to the National oceanic and atmospheric administration (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), today’s prediction of an early arrival of spring – the 19th the bill for all of 132 years (including 10 years for which records have been lost), the famous Groundhog weather forecasts, but the shadow rodent was seen 104 times! But all the perfect predictions Phil was correct only in approximately 40% of cases. Why meteorologists are skeptical of information received, especially given the raging in the US, polar vortex, record cold provoked.
Where did the tradition to turn to the Groundhog for predicting the weather?
Groundhog day traces its roots to a pagan celebration associated with the arrival of spring. 2 February – not a random date. It’s the middle of astronomical winter, which lasts from the winter solstice to the spring equinox (December 22 to March 21 for the Northern hemisphere, from 22 June to 21 September to South). It is believed that in the United States this tradition was brought by immigrants from Germany and for the first time it was celebrated in 1887, the First mention of metapredicate animals were found in the Roman sources: the Romans, the main role of the predictor took a hedgehog. The Germans were guided by the badger, and in some European areas, the weather was guessed with the help of bears.
