Punxsutawney Phil close-up
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 136th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
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Tens of thousands of people are gathering for Punxsutawney Phil's annual prediction. The groundhog, living in a tree stump, is to forecast on Monday whether the long, cold winter in the U.S. will continue for six more weeks or if an early spring is near. Phil's handlers interpret his winks and nods. If Phil sees his shadow, it means more winter; if not, spring is coming. This event at Gobbler’s Knob dates back over a century and has ties to ancient European farming traditions. The festivities have grown since the 1993 movie Groundhog Day.
