On Feb. 2, we celebrate the turn of the seasons with a groundhog’s weather report based on his shadow (or lack of one).
Groundhog Day is celebrated in many locations around the U.S. The biggest ceremony takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Georgia has its own groundhog meteorologist as well. Gen. Beauregard Lee lives in Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson.
Punxsutawney Phil did not let a pandemic take away his spotlight in 2021, though.
Phil made his annual Groundhog Day prognostication from Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania virtually this year with no live audience. Phil saw his shadow Tuesday, predicting six more weeks of winter. That is the 106th time Phil saw his shadow.
General Beauregard Lee did not see his shadow Tuesday at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, predicting an early spring.
»RELATED: What to know about Gwinnett celebrity groundhog Gen. Beauregard Lee
The holiday is loosely based on the Christian holiday of Candlemas, when Christians would bring candles to church to receive a blessing for the remainder of winter. Those who observed the holiday thought that if the Candlemas was fair, winter would stay. Alternatively, if Candlemas was cloudy or rainy, then spring was soon to come.
Credit: Gene J. Puskar
Credit: Gene J. Puskar
Germany introduced animals to the legend and then brought the tradition to America. Originally the German legend had that a badger would see his shadow and predict a long winter. Nowadays, Americans use groundhogs.
Punxsutawney has observed Groundhog Day since 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The city hosts a groundhog named Phil, who looks for his shadow in an annual sunrise celebration. In most years, thousands travel to the city to watch Phil hopefully predict warm weather on the horizon. Last year, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring.
Don't count on a groundhog for the official report, though. Punxsutawney Phil has been correct 39% of the time, according to StormFax Almanac weather data.
“Even though Phil's predictions proved correct for some areas of the country, the difference in average temperatures between years he predicted an early spring (times he did not see his shadow) and years he did not (times he saw his shadow) varied by no more than a few degrees."
Georgia's Gen. Beauregard Lee may be more accurate, boasting a 60% accuracy, according to Politifact.
Last year, General Lee saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.
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