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Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images
Children take a look at Potomac Phil in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Feb. 2.
Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images
Cookies in the shape of a groundhog are served before Potomac Phil.
Punxsutawney Phil better watch his back when he’s not looking for his shadow. He’s got a competitor pining for the spotlight, but there's a twist.
When daylight broke over central Pennsylvania this morning, a doppelganger 250 miles away was imitating the longstanding tradition.
A small crowd gathered in Washington DC today to see what “Potomac Phil” would do. To set the mood, polka music was played, AP said.
Though if the real and renowned rodent is concerned about being overthrown by his beltway imitator, he should rest a bit easier knowing that Potomac Phil is dead.
Potomac Groundhog club founder Aaron DeNu said the stuffed version of Phil saw his shadow during the first annual Dupont Circle Groundhog Day celebration a ceremony, meaning DC residents should brace for six more weeks of winter.
The club is hoping to begin its own Ground Hog Day tradition... but are looking to find a live groundhog for the next celebration.
Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images
Potomac Phil, a taxidermied groundhog brought out to determine whether or not he sees his shadow during the 1st annual Dupont Circle Ground Hog Day celebration in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Feb. 2.
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Wow - just goes to show that if something can be bastardized, someone in Washington DC will find the way! Send in the Clowns! Oh....Wait! They're already here....
Couldn't even use another name like oh, i dunno Pete maybe. How about another day or another animal? A penguin? A rat? How about having somebody make at the very least a robotic groundhog? Agreed, Washington just can't come up with anything original.
I fail to see what's wrong with this, and no, I don't live in DC. Lots of other places have this tradition, Punxutawney is simply the most famous. And who cares if they use the same name? Jeez, lighten up.
All I know is Baby It's Cold Outside.....
I am sure alot of people don't see any thing wrong with it! problem is it distort's our history and when you do that you never learn form it so in 2 generations we loose are heritage and forget how much libirty we have lost!
Not sure which is worse, the fact that DC ripped off the Gobbler's Knob tradition, of that NBCNews regurgitated last years article. They didn't even bother updating the article for 2013!!!
Cumberland, Maryland, currently hosts Groundhog Day with a real, live groundhog named Murray. Murray predicted six more weeks of winter weather at the 7:22 a.m. prediction time. More details are available by searching for the Groundhog Day facebook page, by Twitter @briankgrim or from the Cumberland Times-News.