11 Glamorous Groundhog Day Facts

Here are some power facts about Groundhog Day:

1) Punxsutawney is a Delaware Indian word meaning "the town of sandflies" and was settle by the Delaware (my distant relatives) in 1723.
2) The term groundhog is a Delaware word "wojak" meaning groundhog.
3) German settlers in the 1700s brought the tradition of Candlemas - when clergy would bless and distribute candles and if the sun came out it meant 6 more weeks of winter.
4) The Pennsylvania Dutch brought the folklore about the badger seeing its shadow and Scottish saying, "if Candlemas is bright and clear there will be 2 winters in the year."
5) The Germans couldn't find any badgers in Pennsylvania so they used the groundhog for their custom.
6) The movie Groundhog Day was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois, NOT Punxsutawney.
7) Punxsutawney's population goes from 6,700 people to 35,000 on an average February 2nd
8) Of Phil's 113 predictions he has predicted early spring 14 times (13% 0f the time)
9) Phil's wife is Phyllis
10) Phil's favorite food is ice cream and dog food
11) Phil made no prediction in 1943 due to WW II
12) Groundhogs live about 6 years in the wild but the 22-year-old Wiarton Willie may indicate the maximum lifespan.