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Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day On Feb. 2, Groundhog Day, the famous rodent emerged from his lair to “see” his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
Feb. 2, 2012
Groundhog Club handler John Griffiths holds up Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-prognosticating groundhog, during the 126th celebration of Groundhog Day at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Phil saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter weather.
Gene J. Puskar
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AP
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Feb. 2, 2012
The groundhog made his “prediction” on Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill in the town for which he’s named about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Gene J. Puskar
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AP
Feb. 2, 2012
Organizers expected 15,000 to 18,000 people to witness the furry creature’s prognostication ceremony just before 7:30 a.m. This year’s crowd was warmer than most. The average early-morning temperature usually hovers around 17 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Gene J. Puskar
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AP
Feb. 2, 2012
Fred Unger of York, Pa., waits in the early morning on Gobbler's Knob for Punxsutawney Phil's appearance. The Groundhog Day celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early.
Gene J. Puskar
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AP
Feb. 1, 2012
Runelle Pursley of Jefferson, Ga., stands at Gobbler's Knob after driving more than 700 miles to spend Groundhog Day with the weather-forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil in Punxstawney, Pa.
Gene J. Puskar
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AP
Feb. 2, 2011
Groundhog Club President Bill Deeley, right, looks and listens to Punxsutawney Phil as handler John Griffiths, left, awaits the prediction that winter has ended on Groundhog Day.
Keith Srakocic
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AP
Feb. 2, 2010
Famed weather-prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil makes his annual prediction while being held by co-handler Ben Hughes on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., on the 124th Groundhog Day. Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
Jason Cohn
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Reuters
2001
Melanie Lohwater, center, and Tobi Smith pose as Steve Burkett takes a souvenir picture at the entrance to Gobbler's Knob as they arrived for the Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pa., in 2001.
David Maxwell
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AFP/Getty Images
2008
Jan Jumet of Darlington, Pa., in his homemade groundhog suit, awaits the arrival of Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day, a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. In 2008, a crowd of 40,000 spent a night of revelry awaiting sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den.
Jeff Swensen
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Getty Images
2008
The crowd awaits Punxsutawney Phil before he saw his shadow, in 2008, predicting six more weeks of winter.
Jeff Swensen
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Getty Images
2008
Groundhog handler Ben Hughes looks at Punxsutawney Phil while co-handler John Griffiths holds him after he saw his shadow two years ago.
Jeff Swensen
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Getty Images
2007
Rosemarie Drummond and Jerry Grguich wear groundhog masks while waiting to see whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow in 2007 -- he didn't, thus predicting an early spring.
Mark Wilson
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Getty Images
2007
Groundhog handler Ben Hughes holds up Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, Pa. Groundhogs, or woodchucks, are the largest members of the squirrel family.
Mark Wilson
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Getty Images
2007
Jason Biggs wears a groundhog hat while fireworks go off in the background before Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring in 2007.
Mark Wilson
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Getty Images
2006
Official groundhog handler Bill Deeley holds Punxsutawney Phil as people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney to watch the groundhog look for his shadow.
Jeff Swensen
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Getty Images
2005
Official groundhog handler Bill Deeley, right, holds groundhog Punxsutawney Phil as his shadow is checked on Groundhog Day, 2005. Phil's shadow was visible, which tradition holds means six more weeks of winter.
Jeff Swensen
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Getty Images
2004
A giant hand-painted statue of Punxsutawney Phil greets visitors to the Groundhog Zoo in Barclay Park on the eve of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa.
Archie Carpenter
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Getty Images
2004
An employee of Phil's Fashions poses downtown on the eve of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa. The Groundhog Club says since 1887, Phil has predicted more winter weather by seeing his shadow nearly 100 times, but there are no records for nine years.
Archie Carpenter
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Getty Images
2004
Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-forecasting groundhog, is presented to the crowd. German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow on Feb. 2 -- the Christian holiday of Candlemas -- winter will last another six weeks.
Archie Carpenter
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Getty Images
2002
College students dance on stage during the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pa. Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter in front of a estimated crowd of more than 40,000 in 2002.
Chris Hondros
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Getty Images
2002
Members of Punxsutawney's "Inner Circle" tap on Punxsutawney Phil's door as they entice him out on Feb. 2 during the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pa.
Chris Hondros
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Getty Images
2002
Official groundhog handler Bill Deeley, right, holds Punxsutawney Phil aloft as the weather prediction proclamation is read after the groundhog made his yearly weather prediction.
Chris Hondros
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Getty Images
2002
Groundhog handler Bill Deeley presents Phil to the crowd during the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pa. Groundhogs eat grass, plants, fruits and tree bark.
Chris Hondros
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Getty Images
2001
Crystal Zimmerman of Pittsburgh, Pa., sleeps at the foot of a tree during an all-night vigil during the Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa.
David Maxwell
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AFP/Getty Images
2001
Martha Blake of Punxsutawney, Pa., waves a homemade flag as she joins a crowd of 12,000 in 2001 during the Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler's Knob.
David Maxwell
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AFP/Getty Images
2001
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle member William Deeley, right, makes his way through the crowd with Punxsutawney Phil as well-wishers reach out.
David Maxwell
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AFP/Getty Images
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