Buzz
Since 1886, a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has been forecasting the weather, but it wasn't until 1961 that he earned the name 'Phil.' Prior to that, he was typically referred to as the 'Br'er Groundhog' or simply the 'Punxsutawney Groundhog.' Most accounts, including those from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, suggest that the name 'Phil' is a tribute to 'King Philip,' though this explanation is both questionable and unclear.
The issue lies in the fact that they never specify which 'King Philip' they mean. While the tradition of predicting weather using a marmot's shadow traces back to Germany, the country hasn't had a 'King Philip' in over 800 years. Other places, like France, Greece, Spain, and even the Wampanoag people of New England, have had a King Philip, but it seems unlikely that a small Germanic Pennsylvania town would name their beloved groundhog after any of these monarchs.
Instead, the name might be a nod to a prince—and its origin could be tied to a pair of gruesome murders and a bit of fierce local rivalry.
In 1953, Punxsutawney sent two baby groundhogs to the Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles. These critters were named after the newly crowned British monarchs, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the future Prince (not King!) Philip. While the zoo was eager to welcome Liz and Phil, the state of California had other plans. The California Department of Agriculture declared the baby groundhogs 'agricultural pests' and ordered them to be 'destroyed.' Tragically, the animals were put down.
Back in Pennsylvania, people were outraged. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club even went so far as to call it an 'execution.' The head of the club, fearing the killings could lead to an international conflict, told the *Los Angeles Times*, 'I'm going to ask [my congressman] to take the matter up with the State Department so we won't get into complications with England. Killing these groundhogs was an insult to the royal family.' A congressional representative later issued a statement condemning California. The two groundhogs were finally laid to rest back in their hometown.
Eight years later, the name 'Punxsutawney Phil' first made its appearance in newspapers. It's possible that the new title was a tribute to the dearly departed royal groundhogs (though that remains speculative).
Regardless, the name change was practical as well as symbolic. Other Pennsylvania towns like Quarryville and Pine Grove also had their own weather-predicting woodchucks, leading to a heated debate over who could claim the title of the 'real' prophet. Renaming the groundhog was not only a clever marketing move but also a way to distinguish the various prognosticators. (The competitors were also given unique names: Octoraro Orphie and Grover.)
Ultimately, Punxsutawney received a major PR boost from the 1993 movie *Groundhog Day*—although it had always been home to the leading marmot. On Groundhog Day in 1904, the *Pittsburgh Press* reported, 'Ticket-sellers in various railroad offices noticed an unexpected surge in receipts that morning. First-class tickets to Punxsutawney sold so quickly that raising the price was even considered. Everyone interested in the cold weather was heading to the groundhog’s lair to watch him see his shadow.'
