Saturday, February 2, 2013
The 'groundhogs' see their shadow on a frigid Saturday morning at Wehr's Dam in South Whitehall.
Will spring come early? Not according to "groundhogs" Yahdee and Lee, who took a trip by raft down the Jordan Creek in South Whitehall on Saturday morning as some 70 onlookers braved the frigid morning. The "groundhogs" saw their shadow -- which, according to folklore, means six more weeks of winter. In keeping with Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, Grundsau Lodge No. 16 in Orefield hosted the Groundhog Day event at 7 a.m. along the Jordan Creek. "There’ll be some cold and there’ll be some warm days," said David Adam, the president of Grundsau Lodge No. 16, after Lee (a puppet) whispered to its handlers. "You can get your garden ready the beginning of March," he said. "By St. Patrick’s Day, you can plant your peas." The better-known …
Will it be six more weeks of winter, or will Punxsutawney Phil climb out of the burrow?
On Feb. 2 of each year, according to tradition, the world’s most famous groundhog announces whether or not winter will soon end by either climbing out of his western Pennsylvania burrow, or retreating back to bed. Related story: Groundhog Day Preview: Will Yadhee See His Shadow in Lehigh Valley? But how did a groundhog graduate to meteorologist? Here are a few little-known facts about : 1. The first Groundhog Day was celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1886, but it has far deeper roots than that. Historians trace its origin back to Candlemas, a European tradition that said that if a hedgehog saw its shadow the morning of Feb. 2, we haven’t seen the last of winter. The hedgehog was later changed to groundhog when German settlers …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Forget Punxsutawney Phil. On Saturday, Feb. 2, Lehigh Valley "groundhogs" Yahdee and Lee will appear in South Whitehall again to make a prognostication.
Will Yahdee the "groundhog" see his shadow this year? Punxsutawney has its Phil, but in the Lehigh Valley, Groundhog Day belongs to Yahdee (who has seen a taxidermist) and his grandson Lee (a puppet.) For the sixth time in seven years, Grundsau Lodge No. 16, formed to preserve the language and traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch, will host a Groundhog Day event near Wehr's Dam in South Whitehall. Festivities will get under way at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, with men in top hats, the "groundhogs," and songs sung in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect. Yahdee and Lee will float on a raft (or sled if the creek freezes) 150 feet down Jordan Creek toward Wehr's dam, then Lee will be brought on land and whisper a prediction to the lodge's president. …
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Will it be six more weeks of winter, or will Punxsutawney Phil climb out of the burrow?
UPDATE: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. How accurate will Phil’s weather prediction be for 2012? Make sure to take the Patch Poll below! ORIGINAL POST: On Feb. 2 of each year, according to tradition, the world’s most famous groundhog announces whether or not winter will soon end by either climbing out of his western Pennsylvania burrow, or retreating back to bed. If this is any indicator, I’m guessing that Punxsutawney Phil will not only leave his hole in the ground, but will likely set out a lawn chair and enjoy the early spring. But how did a groundhog graduate to meteorologist? Here are a few little-known facts about : 1. The first Groundhog Day was celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1886…
Mary Anne Looby
3:40 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Go with Phil! He has the better prediction! more ›