BY CHARLIE ZACK
On a sunny day in July of 2014, Gunnar Nixon was reading a book on his patio. “From underneath me, I heard little feet running across the wood, and I felt something furry brush against me,” said Nixon.
That furry animal was a groundhog. “It looked like a fat, small dog. Probably a foot or two long,” said Nixon.
The groundhog has not been a welcomed guest because of Nixon’s fear that the mammal is eating away at the foundation of his house. At least, not until February 2nd when he could give some extra insight on the weather.
Contrary to the weather in Punxsutawney; Pennsylvania, in Cincinnati, Ohio it was cloudy, so Terrace Park Phil did not see his shadow. Punxsutawney Phil did, signaling six more weeks of winter.
“Spring’s my favorite season. I hate winter,” said senior Drew Serraino, who added many expletives when he was informed about the groundhog’s sighting of his shadow.
The science behind Phil’s sighting is (mostly) airtight. According to Old English folklore, “If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again.”
The reasoning behind this is that if the day is cloudy, spring is coming and visa versa. Which makes sense because if it is cloudy, Phil won’t see his shadow, but if it is sunny he will.
Candlemas (a Christian holiday celebrated on February 2nd as the presentation of Jesus Christ at the Temple) is believed to be the first day where the groundhog comes out from hibernation to see if it is time to come out yet. This was first observed by James Morris a storekeeper from Morgantown, Pennsylvania in 1841.
Punxsutawney Phil is more than just a simple groundhog who changes our feelings about the weather with a turn of the head, he has a personality. He stands for things and he’s popular to boot.
Here are some of my favorite moments of Punxsutawney Phil.
During the Prohibition, he threatened 60 weeks of winter if he wasn’t allowed a drink on Groundhog’s Day.
He was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1995.
In 2001, his prediction was broadcasted on the JumboTron at Time Square in New York City.
This year, Phil was right. He, or just the weather, gifted us with almost a full week of no school. Mariemont is still in the choke hold of winter, with no signs of letting up soon.
