Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro has taken a firm stance against the animal rights organization PETA's recent proposal involving the iconic Groundhog Day celebration featuring Punxsutawney Phil. This dispute erupted as PETA suggested replacing the world-famous marmot with a vegan cake, but Shapiro is not backing down.
Groundhog Day, which is celebrated every February 2, has become synonymous with Phil, whose shadow supposedly predicts whether spring will arrive early. The 2025 edition marks the 139th year of this beloved Pennsylvania tradition, making it quite significant.
The conflict between Governor Shapiro and PETA began to take shape on January 21, when the organization sent a letter to Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. PETA pitched what it described as a delicious “Weather Reveal” vegan cake, which they would provide each year if Dunkel agreed to allow Phil and his family to retire to a reputable sanctuary. Their proposed cake would come with two color options: blue for six more weeks of winter and pink for an early spring, mimicking the popular gender reveal trend, as explained by the organization.
PETA's press release was punctuated with playful language, saying, “This would allow you to still make tourism dough, all the whilst showing Phil a slice of decency.” Clearly positioned to attract attention, PETA's playful tone was met with skepticism by Governor Shapiro, who tweeted on January 31, “Come and take it,” underscoring his disinterest in the proposal.
Following his tweet, PETA responded humorously but pointedly, saying, “It’s wonderful you support Phil’s rehabilitation and release to a sanctuary! How would you like us to arrange to pick him up?” A spokesperson for Shapiro reaffirmed his commitment to the tradition, asserting the governor is serious about protecting Phil and the role he plays during the celebration. Press secretary Manuel Bonder stated, “The governor is dead serious in his defense of this historic Pennsylvania tradition.”
The gratitude being shown to Punxsutawney Phil even has strange bedfellows. Gabriella Hoffman, director of the Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy and Conservation, remarked, “I agree with Governor Shapiro on something. PETA is terrible,” highlighting the controversy's bipartisan nature.
Groundhog Day itself has roots tracing back to pre-Christian festivals celebrating seasonal transitions. According to the Library of Congress, the tradition was co-opted as Christianity spread through Europe. Over time, February 2 became associated with the forecasting of weather, stemming from beliefs surrounding Candlemas Day. German immigrants to the United States adapted these traditions, switching from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were more prevalent.
Today, this festivity attracts notable crowds, with between 20,000 to 30,000 visitors flocking to the small town of Punxsutawney each year. Amazingly, even though Phil's predictive accuracy is only about 35%, tourists continue to attend the event, indicating its cultural and social significance in addition to its entertainment value.
This isn't the first time PETA has sought to remove Phil from his role. Last year, they proposed replacing him with a giant gold coin, and just the year prior, they suggested using persimmon seeds as weather predictors instead. Each time, PETA seems to aim at drawing attention to what it views as the mistreatment of animals, with PETA president Ingrid Newkirk stating, “We know locals and tourists who genuinely respect Phil want him to live his life doing what’s natural to him.” With such initiatives, PETA appears intent on maintaining pressure on traditions they deem outdated.
Despite the challenges posed by such external influences, Pennsylvania's Groundhog Day remains entrenched within local lore and celebration. While opinions will certainly differ, at least for now, Punxsutawney Phil retains his status as the unofficial weather predictor of Coca-Cola, unable to be easily swapped for cake or other gimmicks.
With Groundhog Day 2025 poised to roll around this coming Sunday, the exchanges between PETA and Pennsylvania’s leadership suggest this conversation around animal rights and tradition will continue. Phil's winter prediction might be called upon once more and, regardless of whether he sees his shadow, it's certain the debate surrounding his right to remain as Groundhog Day's face will linger on.