Once a year, over forty thousand people gather for an event that has the potential to bring either joy or never ending tears. On Feb. 2, a single groundhog reeled in the crowd with one question: shadow or no shadow?

Groundhog day originated in Pennsylvania. I have no clue where that is on the map, but if watching a groundhog is a main source of entertainment, it cannot be that intriguing. The tradition states that when the groundhog sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back to its hole, predicting six more weeks of winter; what a brave young mammal he is. I am not quite sure why the people of Punxsutawney took such marmot behavior and gave it a deeper meaning, but that is just what they did. Phil the groundhog was declared as trustworthy as the weather forecast.

Woodchuck chucking Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year, predicting an early spring. This winter has been brutal to say the least, so of course Phil’s vision brought a smile to my face. However, my newfound hope was short lived when Feb. 16 brought snow. Groundhog Day has come and gone, along with my belief in nicer weather.

Groundhog day became so big in Pennsylvania, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was formed. The club claims that there has only been one Phil since the tradition originated in 1887. That delusion is almost as crazy as believing a groundhog can predict the weather. So why do people still believe that Phil is an honest individual? His success rate does not even scratch forty percent. That calculates to less than fifty five groundhog days in 137 years where our beloved rodent has been deemed truthful. 

How about we leave groundhogs to digging dirt instead of burying our dreams of the warm sun.