The history of Groundhog Day is more complex than you may think
24 January 2024
(WPHL) – The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA are hoping to make a giant change this Groundhog Day.
In a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Tom Dunkel, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk offered to send a ‘Giant Gold Coin’ to replace Punxsutawney Phil’s role on Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Since Punxsutawney Phil’s “weather predictions are no more reliable than a coin toss,” the conditions of the offer state that “Phil should finally be allowed to live out his days at a reputable sanctuary.”
“Groundhogs can’t make heads or tails of the weather forecast and shouldn’t be jostled around by large members of a different species and thrust in front of noisy crowds for a photo op,” says Newkirk. “PETA is urging The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to send Phil to a reputable sanctuary that will give him the care he needs and not to treat him as a wildlife prop.”
PETA noted that groundhogs are naturally shy animals who enjoy burrowing, exploring, and hibernating, which Punxsutawney Phil is deprived of by being kept year-round at ‘Phil’s Burrow’ inside the Punxsutawney Library.
As for the name, PETA suggested coining a new name for the holiday, calling it “Weather There’ll Be More Winter Day.”
This offer is not the first time PETA has tried to replace Phil. Previous offers from the organization included a human replacement for Phil, who would live in his small enclosure and take his place making unscientific weather predictions, and planting a persimmon tree, whose seeds are believed by some farmers to indicate the weather ahead. PETA says both of those offers still stand, alongside their new coin offer.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has not responded to a request for comment. Groundhog Day is on February 2, 2024.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, cloudy skies are expected on February 2, which would mean Phil will not see his shadow and predict an early spring.