5 Good Suggestions for a Groundhog Day Without Phil

My wife, Kathleen, and I were married on Groundhog Day, but not because it’s our favorite holiday. We were married on 2/2/02, and today is our 22^nd wedding anniversary. Therefore, I think this qualifies me to speak on this volatile subject.

It’s been a yearly tradition since the 1880s. I can’t say I’ve been around for all of them, but I can say that it’s time it ended. That’s what the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said last week in a letter to rodent officials in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Here’s a quick explanation for those who have been living in a hole like a groundhog. Groundhog Day is when Punxsutawney Phil and other groundhogs throughout the country emerge from their hole to provide an incorrect weather prediction.

PETA is suggesting that Phil and friends be retired and a gold coin flip should be used instead. The reasoning is that the odds of a correct prediction are the same as the hog. Come on, PETA! I may back you on this if you come up with a more creative idea.

In 1993 Phil Connors shared an historical perspective, and his dismay toward the folks at Gobbler’s Knob. He said, “This is pitiful, a thousand people freezing their butts off waiting to worship a rat…Groundhog Day used to mean something in this town. They used to pull the hog out and they used to eat it.” Then he accused all of the townspeople of being hypocrites. He also berated his co-workers Larry and Rita. Needless to say, it was a very uncomfortable situation for all involved.

I don’t think we should go back to eating the little fella, but maybe we could propose some other options.

For instance, we could consider dressing up a muskrat or a possum to look like a groundhog. Then no accusations of cruelty could be claimed regarding groundhogs.

Perhaps, instead of a groundhog, we could use Paul Giamatti or Bradley Cooper. They are both excellent actors and I believe either would be very convincing in the role.

Another is to do “eeney meeney miney moe” with a picture of winter snow and another of spring flowers. I’m leaning towards that one because I think it would be very exciting and fun.

We choose two actual meteorologists with the poorest accuracy rates. They would then gnaw on each other until one surrenders. The winner would then be flipped like a coin.

I feel like I’m the only one providing any solutions here. Feel free to jump in at any time.

Lastly, maybe we could offer a compromise to PETA. We use their gold coin idea on Groundhog Day. However, moving forward, we use groundhogs to decide the start of NFL games.

Lastly (really this time), replace Phil with Chuck E. Cheese. There would be money from their sponsorship, pizza for the townspeople, and the kids could play games like “Whack-a-mole.” Or maybe “Whack-a-coin” would be a more humane choice.

Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2; the holiday started in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Each year, Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction about whether we will get an early spring or six more weeks of winter. If he sees his shadow when he comes out of his burrow, that means six more weeks of winter, but if he doesn't see his shadow, an early spring!

Want to see what Phil decides? You can watch him make his prediction this 136th Groundhog Day online here: www.visitpa.com/groundhog-day-live-stream/.

The tradition of Groundhog Day started in Europe as Candlemas Day, clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter, which represented how long the winter would be. In the 1700s Germans who settled in Pennsylvania brought the custom to America but selected an animal to predict the weather.

In 1886 a local newspaper first wrote about Groundhog Day, but the first official celebration of Groundhog Day took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1887. A group of businessmen made their way to Gobbler's Knob and formed the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Nowadays, every February 2, spectators attend Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney.

Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow ninety-seven times, and has not seen it fifteen times, making his predictions accurate approximately 39% of the time.

Groundhogs grow between eight to twelve pounds and live between six to eight years. They dig burrows for homes that can be anywhere from eight to sixty-six feet long and hibernate in their burrows until February 2nd.

Groundhogs are called “true hibernators” because they can reduce their heartbeat to as little as five beats per minute and drop their body temperature down to 41 degrees Fahrenheit while they hibernate.

When the Germans settled in Pennsylvania they had a hard time finding badgers which they traditionally used on Candlemas Day, so they made the switch the a groundhog.

Phil has a wife named Phyllis and they both live in the town library at Gobbler's Knob.

During the first celebration, The Punxsutawney Groundhog considered the groundhog to be a delicacy, so they ate their namesake.