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The moment Punxsutawney Phil came out and chose one of two scrolls. Fox News

Six more weeks of winter predicted in Pennsylvania's Groundhog Day ceremony

The ceremony sees the rodent Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his burrow and choose one of two scrolls to decide the upcoming weather.

THE AGE-OLD TRADITION of allowing a chosen groundhog to predict the end of winter has continued in the US state of Pennsylvania.

The ceremony, made famous thanks to the 1993 Bill Murray film Groundhog Day, sees  the rodent Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his burrow and choose one of two scrolls to decide the upcoming weather.

One has a sunnier outlook, the other less so. 

And unfortunately Phil has opted for the scroll providing locals with six more weeks of winter.

Thousands of people gather every year at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle”, wearing top hats and traditional garb, summon him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he had seen his shadow.

According to folklore, spring would come early if he did not see it. 

The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent.

According to records dating back to 1887, Phil has predicted winter more than 100 times.

Additional reporting from PA

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    Mute Colm de Cleir
    Favourite Colm de Cleir
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 1:00 PM

    The question is, how often has he been right?

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    Mute Mairead Hynes
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 1:05 PM

    Trevor Noah put it best.. you do realize there are people in Africa, living in mud huts and wearing animal skins looking at this tradition saying why not use satellite data?

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 1:25 PM

    Was this not yesterday?

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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 3:27 PM

    @Brian Dunne: No, it’s the day before tomorrow.

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    Mute Keth Warsaw
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 1:33 PM

    If I’ve told them once, I’ve told em a thousand times!

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    Mute Aidy McBride
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 4:12 PM

    What a film that was

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    Mute Rob Goodbody
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    Feb 2nd 2023, 5:19 PM

    Predicted winter? I could have told them that. It will roll around next year, and the year after, as predictable as Groundhog Day.

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    Mute A$AP ETH
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    Feb 3rd 2023, 9:05 AM

    Ned Ryerson!

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