Groundhog handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter during 126th annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2012 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
February 2 is Groundhog Day 2017. Learn about the history and origins of the holiday here and what Punxsutawney Phil has prognosticated: an early spring or more winter?
Groundhog Day was first officially established in 1887 by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The club has monitored the event every year since. “Punxsutawney Phil” has been the name of the resident groundhog used for weather prognostication for the club since its inception, and the club jokingly claims that there has only ever been one Punxsutawney Phil.
However, the average lifespan of a captive groundhog is 9-14 years. PAGAN ROOTS:MORE