This is probably the most confusing Groundhog Day yet, and not about being stuck in a time loop like the 1990s cult classic starring Bill Murray, which shares the same name as the holiday. Let’s go on this deep dive, shall we?
There is a new article from USA Today, along with many other news sites, reports that PETA has made a proclamation to create an alternative to the long-standing tradition of the groundhog popping out to see (or not to see) its shadow. The proposed alternative? A sugary confection–a cake resembling a gender reveal cake to represent the seasons.
PETA, which advocates for animal rights, officially offered the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the option to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a vegan “weather cake.” Instead of blue and pink representing a baby’s gender, the cake would use blue to symbolize six more weeks of winter and pink to signify an early spring.
This isn’t the first time that PETA has suggested this idea. Last year, they wanted the iconic groundhog replaced with a gold coin, and in 2022, they proposed using persimmon seeds, citing concerns about animal mistreatment regarding the groundhog and the promotion of animal abuse.
You may wonder why PETA is trying this over and over again like a time loop–à la the movie “Groundhog Day”–where Bill Murray’s character, a news anchor, is stuck in a time loop on Groundhog Day with all of these different scenarios until he figures out the reason he celebrates and reports on the holiday in the first place.
The reason is that every time PETA tries to replace the titular Phil, it won’t go in their favor. The groundhog doesn’t seem to be in danger, all it does is peek out of its den to look down at its shadow. If there’s a shadow in sight, then we get six more weeks of winter, and if there’s no shadow, it means an early spring will be sprung into action.
Since Feb. 2 marked the titular holiday, PETA once again failed to replace the groundhog. Phil ended up seeing his shadow, which meant six more weeks of winter.
Author
As Rhiannon had done journalism in the past for her high school. She hopes to continue that path through the Collegian.
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