From candles to Punxsutawney Phil
Despite suggestions to turn him into a robot, Phil's tradition continued
Sara Gaul
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Features
Last update: 2/3/10 at 11:27 PM EST
It was around 7 a.m. on Feb. 2, a typical morning for most people living in Western Pa. The sun just started to rise on the cold, but clear winter day. Many were either in dreamland or groggily waking to the horrible beeping of an alarm clock … except for one town: Punxsutawney.
For a small groundhog named Phil, the Groundhog Day celebrations began late Monday night. As tradition has it, if Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter are on their way, but if he doesn't see his shadow, spring is right around the corner.
On Tuesday morning, Phil saw his shadow, and the thousands gathered at Gobbler's Knob boo-ed their little, furry friend.
The holiday stems from a Christian holiday from the 18th century called Candlemas, which was celebrated on Feb. 2. If it were bright and sunny on Candlemas, winter would last longer, but if it rained or was cloudy, spring would come soon. According to the official Web site of Punxsutawney Phil, how Candlemas turned into a groundhog is "clouded in the mists of time."
Every year, Groundhog Day generates a good amount of revenue for the small town. From all-night bars, to singers and dancers all over town, children and adults flock to Punxsutawney to enjoy one of the only winter festivals in Pennsylvania.
Senior marketing major Dan Blough is from Punxsutawney and has attended Groundhog Day four or five times.
"It is a pretty fun experience. It's pretty much an all-night party," said Blough. "You go and just hang out with friends and meet new people."
Since 1886, thousands of people have made their annual trek to Gobbler's Knob to see what Phil predicts. But Phil and his Inner Circle friends, a group devoted to protecting Phil, could not predict they would upset the largest animal rights organization in the world with their 124-year-old tradition. This year, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals suggested turning Phil into a robot. In an e-mail sent to The Duquesne Duke, Ryan Huling, senior college campaign coordinator, explained why.
"Groundhogs are very shy animals who shun human contact so for Phil, the Groundhog Day festivities are a terrifying experience," Huling wrote.
Huling also wrote that Phil "deserves to be treated with dignity," and to live in a natural habitat and not a "Plexiglas cube." PETA believes the Inner Circle should "incorporate modern advances with long-standing traditions," by replacing Phil with a robot.
Blough disagreed. Blough said he knows Phil's handler and has met the groundhog a few times.
"That groundhog is treated better than most other animals," Blough said. "[PETA says the Inner Circle] doesn't let him hibernate - that's not true, they only wake him up on certain days."
In fact, according to Phil's handler Ben Hughes, he lives in a pretty natural habitat. In the middle of Punxsutawney there is a place that Phil, his girlfriend Phyllis and a couple baby groundhogs call home - the Groundhog Zoo. Hughes said that he and co-handler John Griffiths do their best to make sure Phil is as comfortable and living as naturally as possible.
"Groundhogs do three things: eat, sleep, get excited for mating season, then eat and sleep some more," Hughes said.
It is Hughes, Griffiths and the rest of the Inner Circle's job to make sure Phil is as happy as possible, even when they are on the road. This year they are headed to Times Square; in 1995 they met Oprah Winfrey; and in 1986, they were invited to the White House to meet President Ronald Reagan.
Phil and the tradition of Groundhog Day become more popular every year. According to Hughes, when people think of Pennsylvania, the first thing they think of is the Liberty Bell, and the second thing is Punxsutawney Phil. The event even inspired a movie in 1993 called Groundhog Day, which spurred even more people to venture to Gobbler's Knob in the dead of winter.
"Our town has about 5,000 people, and we have about 87 hotel rooms," Hughes said. "We expect about 50,000 people each year for Groundhog Day."
This year was no different. Since the event begins at 3 a.m. and takes place in the middle of the woods, it can be quite a challenge to get volunteers to help with the event; the freezing weather, early morning hours and the fact that they may not even get to see Phil's prediction make it more difficult.
Yet, when it is time for Phil to make his prediction, the 15 members of the Inner Circle march in a line, dressed in tuxes and top hats, through the massive crowd of faithful Phil followers and media, toward the stage. On stage sits a large tree stump, Phil's temporary house for the morning. Once the circle makes it to the stage, a remake of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Down on the Corner," plays, but with Groundhog Day-esque lyrics. The Inner Circle members are introduced, and as the crowd chants "Phil," the groundhog is pulled from his stump to tell the world his prediction.
A spot in the Inner Circle is not given away easily. And it takes a few years before a member steps down and a spot opens up. It started as a social club, but now it is a chance for a new member to improve the festival.
"It's about what you can bring to the table," Hughes said. "Whether it is access to good equipment, if you are good with the media … whatever you can do to help with the huge festival."
And the festival isn't going anywhere soon. Each summer at the Groundhog Picnic, Phil is given an "elixir of life," prolonging his life by seven years. Despite PETA's "animatronic alternatives" suggestions, the town of Punxsutawney loves their real-life version. And who wouldn't?
In Hughes words, he is "really darn cute."
For a small groundhog named Phil, the Groundhog Day celebrations began late Monday night. As tradition has it, if Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter are on their way, but if he doesn't see his shadow, spring is right around the corner.
On Tuesday morning, Phil saw his shadow, and the thousands gathered at Gobbler's Knob boo-ed their little, furry friend.
The holiday stems from a Christian holiday from the 18th century called Candlemas, which was celebrated on Feb. 2. If it were bright and sunny on Candlemas, winter would last longer, but if it rained or was cloudy, spring would come soon. According to the official Web site of Punxsutawney Phil, how Candlemas turned into a groundhog is "clouded in the mists of time."
Every year, Groundhog Day generates a good amount of revenue for the small town. From all-night bars, to singers and dancers all over town, children and adults flock to Punxsutawney to enjoy one of the only winter festivals in Pennsylvania.
Senior marketing major Dan Blough is from Punxsutawney and has attended Groundhog Day four or five times.
"It is a pretty fun experience. It's pretty much an all-night party," said Blough. "You go and just hang out with friends and meet new people."
Since 1886, thousands of people have made their annual trek to Gobbler's Knob to see what Phil predicts. But Phil and his Inner Circle friends, a group devoted to protecting Phil, could not predict they would upset the largest animal rights organization in the world with their 124-year-old tradition. This year, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals suggested turning Phil into a robot. In an e-mail sent to The Duquesne Duke, Ryan Huling, senior college campaign coordinator, explained why.
"Groundhogs are very shy animals who shun human contact so for Phil, the Groundhog Day festivities are a terrifying experience," Huling wrote.
Huling also wrote that Phil "deserves to be treated with dignity," and to live in a natural habitat and not a "Plexiglas cube." PETA believes the Inner Circle should "incorporate modern advances with long-standing traditions," by replacing Phil with a robot.
Blough disagreed. Blough said he knows Phil's handler and has met the groundhog a few times.
"That groundhog is treated better than most other animals," Blough said. "[PETA says the Inner Circle] doesn't let him hibernate - that's not true, they only wake him up on certain days."
In fact, according to Phil's handler Ben Hughes, he lives in a pretty natural habitat. In the middle of Punxsutawney there is a place that Phil, his girlfriend Phyllis and a couple baby groundhogs call home - the Groundhog Zoo. Hughes said that he and co-handler John Griffiths do their best to make sure Phil is as comfortable and living as naturally as possible.
"Groundhogs do three things: eat, sleep, get excited for mating season, then eat and sleep some more," Hughes said.
It is Hughes, Griffiths and the rest of the Inner Circle's job to make sure Phil is as happy as possible, even when they are on the road. This year they are headed to Times Square; in 1995 they met Oprah Winfrey; and in 1986, they were invited to the White House to meet President Ronald Reagan.
Phil and the tradition of Groundhog Day become more popular every year. According to Hughes, when people think of Pennsylvania, the first thing they think of is the Liberty Bell, and the second thing is Punxsutawney Phil. The event even inspired a movie in 1993 called Groundhog Day, which spurred even more people to venture to Gobbler's Knob in the dead of winter.
"Our town has about 5,000 people, and we have about 87 hotel rooms," Hughes said. "We expect about 50,000 people each year for Groundhog Day."
This year was no different. Since the event begins at 3 a.m. and takes place in the middle of the woods, it can be quite a challenge to get volunteers to help with the event; the freezing weather, early morning hours and the fact that they may not even get to see Phil's prediction make it more difficult.
Yet, when it is time for Phil to make his prediction, the 15 members of the Inner Circle march in a line, dressed in tuxes and top hats, through the massive crowd of faithful Phil followers and media, toward the stage. On stage sits a large tree stump, Phil's temporary house for the morning. Once the circle makes it to the stage, a remake of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Down on the Corner," plays, but with Groundhog Day-esque lyrics. The Inner Circle members are introduced, and as the crowd chants "Phil," the groundhog is pulled from his stump to tell the world his prediction.
A spot in the Inner Circle is not given away easily. And it takes a few years before a member steps down and a spot opens up. It started as a social club, but now it is a chance for a new member to improve the festival.
"It's about what you can bring to the table," Hughes said. "Whether it is access to good equipment, if you are good with the media … whatever you can do to help with the huge festival."
And the festival isn't going anywhere soon. Each summer at the Groundhog Picnic, Phil is given an "elixir of life," prolonging his life by seven years. Despite PETA's "animatronic alternatives" suggestions, the town of Punxsutawney loves their real-life version. And who wouldn't?
In Hughes words, he is "really darn cute."
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