On February 2, people across the U.S. and parts of Canada excitedly wake up to see whether the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow.
This yearly practice is derived from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter and if it does not, there will be an early spring.
That’s why Punxsutawney Phil is probably the world’s most famous groundhog in all of history. Just like any other celebrity, he has his own inner circle that makes sure he’s living the best life possible.
They even make a Groundhog Day for him. The Inner Circle members will make it a point that everything goes smoothly when they are celebrating the big event.
John Griffiths has been a member of Phil’s Inner Circle for more than 20 years and his duties make him sound more like a personal assistant to the groundhog.
He cuts up fresh veggies to ensure Phil is eating a healthy balanced diet and he is also responsible handling the vague meteorologist on his big day.
If you’ve ever watched the celebration on the television, you might notice the formal wear that all the members of the Inner Circle are wearing.
However, the celebration is not about their clothes. It is said to be a way of honoring and paying tribute to Phil’s stature.
In fact, some members of the Inner Circle even consider him to be the king of the animal kingdom. They say that Phil is drinking some elixir of life to make his predictions accurate and have a longer life.
It may look like that the Inner Circle are a cult that comes together every February for their annual ritual. Nevertheless, that’s its part of their tradition or superstitious belief.