Groundhog Day: How did this strange tradition start?
Weather-predicting rodents have been a tradition in America since the 1800s. Find out a little more about the history and Georgia’s own groundhog.
Groundhog Day has been an annual tradition since the very first celebration was held on Feb. 2nd, 1877 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
If the groundhog sees its shadow, there is six more weeks of winter ahead. If he does not, spring will come early.
The tradition stems from ancient Celtic roots, with Feb. 2nd marking the halfway point between the start of winter on the winter solstice and the start of spring on the spring equinox. German immigrants had a custom of weather-predicting animals, and Americans opted for the groundhog over the European hedgehogs and badgers.
The actual celebration was created by a newspaper editor named Cylmer Freas, who lived in Punxsutawney and was a part of an groundhog hunting group called Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. He and his group designated Punxsutawney Phil the official meteorologist of the nation….
Does Georgia have its own groundhog?
Yes, Georgia is home to General Beauregard Lee, often referred to as the South’s Punxsutawney Phil. He’s named after Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and P.G.T Beauregard, and he lives in Dauset Trails in a custom antebellum mansion with a name of its own; Weather Heights.
Although Phil may be slightly more well-known, according to a 2022 study done by FiveThirtyEight.com, “Beau” is known as the most reliable weather predicting groundhog, with a…
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