Every year on February 2, thousands and thousands of people descend upon Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at Gobbler's Knob to watch “Punxsutawney Phil” the Groundhog make his annual weather prediction.

This tradition has been going strong for 131 years in Pennsylvania, and continues to captivate the world.

Phil the Groundhog will either predict six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow, or determine an early spring is imminent if now shadow exists.

The Groundhog Day tradition is inspired by Candlemas Day, once celebrated by early Christians and many other people. Candlemas Day was a day devoted to blessing candles and distributing them to people, during a day which marked a milestone for the winter.  It was also said that if the sun made an appearance on this day, and an animal indigenous to the area would cast a shadow, six more weeks of bad weather would occur. The six more weeks of winter was consisdered to be the length of the “Second Winter.”

When settlers first arrived in Pennsylvania, they noticed the large amount of groundhogs in the area. They believed that these animals were intelligent creatures, because they resembled the European hedgehog they knew. So, they used the groundhog to make the prediction on Candlemas Day, which was February 2.

Phil was chosen to be one and only weather predicting Groundhog in the world, and was named after a fierce leader King Phillip. King Phillip was the leader of the Wampanoag Confederacy in 1662 and is most remembered for King Phillip’s War. This war was between Native Americans and the American Colonists.

So, how can observers know if Phil actually saw his shadow or not when he only speaks Groundhogese? Well, Phil has his own personal translators that help translate for him. They are also his caregivers.

These individuals are called the The Inner Circle, which include 15 local men that care for the well being of the famous Groundhog and are responsible for continuing the Groundhog Day tradition. Wearing their top hats and tuxedos, they help Phil publicize his prediction to all the world.

This event has become so popular that several TV stations come to Punxsutawney to relay full coverage of the Groundhog Day festivities. So even people who are unable to attend, can still see the annual prediction.

Groundhog Day festivities commence bright and early February 2 at 3:00 am. By this time, Gobbler’s Knob is full of anxious people waiting to see Phil. To pass the time, a firework display kicks off the celebration, followed by several performing acts.  Then “Punxy Phil” gets to make his famous prediction for everyone, once he decides to scurry out of his burrow around 7:00 am.

Many activities also occur in the town of Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day, including a talent show, craft sale, ice carving show, contests, scavenger hunts, and a tour of the various statues of Phil that stand throughout the town. Also, if anyone chooses to renew their marriage vows, they can do it there as well.

A movie was even created to capture some of the activities that happen in Punxsutawney called “Groundhog Day.” In the movie Phil Connors played by Bill Murray is a TV weather reporter asked to take coverage of the annual Groundhog Day event, but ends up finding himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again. This movie became very famous, even though it wasn’t actually filmed in the famous Gobbler’s Knob.

Groundhog Day has been a tradition that has gone on for many, many years, and continues to strike excitement in people of all ages. With the all the fun activities and the famous weather prediction from Punxsutawney Phil, February 2 will always be huge celebration regardless if it means we must endure six more weeks of winter.