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MisterPaulCraig OP t1_j6xijxu wrote

Reply to comment by Scuzwheedl0r in [OC] An interactive map of North America's prognosticating groundhogs by MisterPaulCraig

It basically works the same way as it does for a real groundhog (who is also not able to communicate to humans — except through Groundhogese, of course).

The mayor or whoever just reads a prediction out to the crowd and they either cheer (if spring is coming) or they cheer less loudly (if winter is staying). Here's a 1 min video of Poor Richard's prediction, a taxidermied groundhog in Pennsylvania: https://www.therecordherald.com/videos/news/2023/02/02/hear-york-groundhogs-prediction-spring-and-eagles-vs-kansas-city-chiefs/11169342002/

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Scuzwheedl0r t1_j6xj7wf wrote

I always thought the groundhog was released into the outdoors in some way, and if it came out facing the direction of its shadow, we had more winter, but if it didn't (or it was overcast) we had spring. So does someone like spin one of these dead guys on a Lazy Suzan and see which way it ends up pointing? Or if its overcast they just call it early spring?

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MisterPaulCraig OP t1_j6xncmh wrote

Some of the real groundhogs will do that, but often there is just someone holding the groundhog or it's in a plastic box or something. Most of the time, the announcers take their cue from the weather: if there's sun out, it can see its shadow — if not, early spring!

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