PETA is calling for a change to Groundhog Day.
The organization — which stands for “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” — shared a news release on Jan. 21, in which they suggested that Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who predicts whether winter will go on for six more weeks or spring will arrive early, should be replaced with a “weather reveal” cake.
The vegan treat, PETA said, would mimic that of a sex reveal for a baby. Once cut, the cake would show one of two colors: blue, meaning six more weeks of winter, or pink, indicating an early spring.
The animal rights advocates added that Punxsutawney Phil and his family should “retire to a reputable sanctuary” instead of taking part in the annual tradition, which takes place on Feb. 2.
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In a letter to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s president, Tom Dunkel, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk used puns to convey the organization’s plea, writing that letting Punxsutawney Phil retire and be replaced by the cake “would allow you to still make tourism dough while showing Phil a slice of decency.”
Continuing the play on words, Newkirk said, “Groundhog Day is no piece of cake” for Punxsutawney Phil, detailing that “groundhogs are shy prey animals who, when allowed, actively avoid humans.”
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“Yet, year after year, Phil is transported to Gobler’s Knob, whisked on stage, and subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds, and flashing lights against all his natural instincts,” she continued.
Added Newkirk: “If approached in his natural habitat, he would run away in fear, not volunteer to live year-round in captivity, unable to do anything that’s natural and important to him like hibernate or burrow — just to be a town’s once-a-year fake meteorologist.”
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PETA has made similar offers to replace Punxsutawney Phil in years past.
In 2024, the group asked The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to retire the rodent in favor of a giant coin, while they suggested in 2022 that officials instead use a persimmon tree to predict the weather.
Two years earlier, in 2020, PETA argued that the animal should be swapped out for an animatronic version that would be equipped with artificial intelligence capable of more accurately predicting the weather.
Last year, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring over more weeks of winter.
Every year on February 2nd, people eagerly await the prediction of Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who determines whether we will have six more weeks of winter or an early spring. However, animal rights organization PETA is proposing a new and more animal-friendly tradition for Groundhog Day.
PETA is suggesting that instead of relying on Punxsutawney Phil, we should turn to a “Weather Reveal” cake. This cake would be made with ingredients that are not harmful to animals and would be decorated with symbols representing different weather patterns. At the stroke of midnight on Groundhog Day, the cake would be cut open to reveal a prediction for the upcoming season.
PETA believes that this new tradition would be a more ethical and humane way to celebrate Groundhog Day, without putting pressure on a captive animal like Punxsutawney Phil. They argue that using a cake for weather prediction is just as fun and exciting, while also promoting animal welfare.
While the idea of replacing Punxsutawney Phil with a “Weather Reveal” cake may seem unconventional, it is a creative and compassionate alternative that aligns with PETA’s mission to protect animals. Perhaps it’s time for a change in how we celebrate Groundhog Day, and this cake could be just the thing to bring a new twist to this age-old tradition.
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- PETA
- Punxsutawney Phil
- Groundhog Day
- Weather Reveal Cake
- Animal rights
- Groundhog Day tradition
- Punxsutawney Phil replacement
- PETA proposal
- Weather prediction
- Animal welfare
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