Punxsutawney Phil's Predictions
On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day was celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring. However, there's quite the controversy on the validity of this tradition.
NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center says Phil’s forecasts have shown no predictive skill in recent years. On average, Phil has gotten it right 40% of the time over the past 10 years. So, what do you think? Are you going with Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of an early spring, or do you think we'll have a drawn out winter this year?
How Did Groundhog Day Become a Tradition in the States?
Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be.
Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal as a means of predicting weather. The originally chosen animal was the hedgehog. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State.
From then on, the news spread and newspapers around the world began sharing Phil's predictions. Fans from all over the place would travel to Punxsutawney, PA to visit Phil on February 2 every year.
After the filming of 'Groundhogs Day' in 1993 starring Bill Murray, crowds started pouring in numbering in the tens of thousands! For having only a 40% accuracy rate, this guy is quite the star!
We Hope Phil's Right!
While we can't say with certainty whether we can expect to have an early spring or not, we can say for sure that it's essential to continue your pest control treatments all year round to avoid any unwelcome pests from seeking shelter from the cold in your home. And if we do get to see spring a little earlier this year, you'll for sure want to have your pest control treatments scheduled. After all, spring brings rain, and pests will be looking for a dry place to hide out during those spring storms. Let A B Pest Control & Insulation protect your home from pests no matter what season it is!
