It's Groundhog Day and that means people all across the country turn to Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Punxsutawney Pensylvannia, to find out if we'll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. According to legend, if Phil sees his shadow, we're in for six more grueling weeks of winter; if he doesn't see his shadow, we'll have an early spring. This year, Phil's prediction drew a crowd of over 40,000 people, many of whom spent the night outdoors celebrating and waiting for the weather-savvy groundhog to emerge from his den at dawn.

This year, when Phil came out of his den he saw no shadow. Thus the official Groundhog Day forecast, read at Gobbler's Knob, revealed to all that there will be six more weeks of winter:

"On Gobbler's Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2^nd, 2008 Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths. After casting a weathered eye toward thousands of his faithful followers, Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed: As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it will be!" ~ Phil's official forecast as read at Gobbler's Knob

According to groundhog lore, there has only ever been one Punxhutawney Phil. This year's prediction was Phil's 122^nd forecast. Past predictions include 97 shadow sightings (six more weeks of winter) and 15 no-shadows (early spring). There were 9 years in which no Groundhog Day prediction was made. It is said that Phil's keepers are sure to give him Groundhog Punch each year to enable him to maintain his immortality.

Find out more:

• Official Site of the Punxatawny Groundhog Club (Groundhog.org)
• Groudhog Day Guide (Punxsutawneyphil.com)

Photos © Jeff Swensen / Getty Images. Top: Groundhog handlers Ben Hughes and John Griffiths with Punxsutawney Phil. Bottom: Jan Jumet of Pennsylvania in his homemade groundhog suit awaits the arrival of Punxsutawney Phil.