Groundhog Day 2012: Punxsutawney Phil says 6 more weeks of winter

Punxsutawney - Perennial favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter on the morning of Feb. 2 when he was awakened from his annual slumber.

Phil's handlers announced on Groundhog Day the furry fellow saw his shadow, meaning spring will be delayed for another six weeks (courtesy of CBS live feed). 2012 was Punxsutawney Phil's 126th appearance out of hibernation to make his annual weather prediction. In the U.S. the tradition of Groundhog Day is rooted in European history and associated with the religious-based Candlemas Day. According to tradition, if a hibernating animal sees no shadow on Feb. 2 (Candlemas), then spring would come early, but if a shadow is observed, winter will last an additional six weeks. In Pennsylvania, Germans were some of the earliest settlers and felt the groundhog most resembled the traditional hedgehog which had been observed in Europe. In Punxsutawney, Pa., the Inner Circle dresses up in the traditional and widely recognized tuxedo garb to perform the annual ceremony and celebration. The Inner Circle plans the events that coincide with Groundhog Day and also takes care of Phil. While Phil gave his forecast on this year's future weather, two predictions he did not appear to forecast was whether the New England Patriots or the New York Giants would win the Super Bowl XLVI or on November's U.S. Presidential election. This winter season has been an erratic one for many across North America as temperatures bounced between snowy and wintry cold temperatures and spring-like conditions where flowers began to bloom in January. The northeastern U.S. received an early snowstorm in October, while the Northwestern U.S. received an unusual snow/ice storm this past month. Alaska was recently buried in record amounts of snow, as reported by Digital Journal.