Despite the cold, tens of thousands of spectators attended the celebration. This year, anyone wishing to take a photo with the groundhog was denied, as it was not planned to keep him out in the cold for long.
The tradition of consulting groundhogs for weather predictions began in the 1880s when German farmers migrated to the USA. In some parts of Germany, they observed the sleeping animals to predict how long the frosts would last. Today, thousands of people gather to hear Phil the groundhog's forecast. If he sees his shadow, it means winter will last for six more weeks; if not, spring will arrive early.
Similar events were also held in other cities across the USA and Canada on this day, where animals were "asked" about the weather. For example, groundhog Chuck on Staten Island in New York also predicted six more weeks of winter. Initial counts showed that predictions for an extended winter and an early spring were nearly evenly distributed, with around a hundred such events expected in total. Nevertheless, Phil from Punxsutawney is considered particularly authoritative across the country.
