| Punxsutawney Phil is a 120 year old groundhog. A | | | | next six weeks of weather. |
| groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is a | | | | There are other cities that have similar Groundhog |
| plant-eating member of the squirrel family known | | | | Day mascots. For instance, Wiarton Willie is |
| to infuriate farmers and drivers in rural areas. But | | | | Canada’s answer to Punxsutawney Phil. In |
| Phil is seemingly no ordinary groundhog. | | | | 1956, Mac McKenzie held a Groundhog Day party |
| In 1723, the Delaware Indians settled in the | | | | just for fun. The party was visited by a Toronto |
| Punxsutawney, PA area. Near Pittsburgh, this small | | | | reporter who was dismayed to find that he did |
| town was named after the Indian word for | | | | not have much of a story to report. So Willie |
| “sandflies” that populated the area. In | | | | grabbed his wife’s fur hat, burrowed into the |
| 1886 the Punxsutawney Spirit dubbed a particular | | | | snow, and came out with a prognostication. No |
| groundhog "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, | | | | one remembers what the prediction was, but a |
| Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, | | | | picture of Willie became a famous image in the |
| and Weather Prophet Extraordinary”. That | | | | newspaper. Brandon Bob, Grundoon, Muldoon, and |
| first year, Phil did not see his shadow, signifying | | | | Sand Dune, Balzac Billie, Staten Island Chuck, Gary |
| early spring. | | | | the Groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, and other |
| Each year since, a groundhog called | | | | groundhogs are observed in other cities around |
| Punxsutawney Phil (the original Phil died over a | | | | North America. Punxsutawney’s tourism |
| century ago of course) is closely observed on | | | | board insists that these other groundhogs are |
| “Gobbler’s Knob” so that journalists | | | | imposters. |
| and hobbyists all over the country can report the | | | | |