Published February 14. 2024 05:02PM
by LOU WHEELAND Special to The Press
It was a foggy and cloudy morning Feb. 2 at South Whitehall’s Covered Bridge Park when Grundsau (groundhog) Yadhe and his grandson, Lee, crossed the Jahden (Jordan) creek to declare an early spring.
With the help of members of Grundsau 16 (Groundhog Club 16,) the intrepid rodents were transported across the Jordan Creek near Wehr Dam.
Grundsau 16 Haaptmann (President) David Adam presided over the event.
Adam led the crowd using Pennsylvania Dutch as his prime language.
Groundhog Day migrated to the United States with German farmers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In Europe, the badger was considered the weather prognosticator, but was replaced by the groundhog in North America since badgers were not as prevalent as in Europe.
Though there is no scientific evidence that any animal can predict the weather, it’s fun to gather together on an early February morning to sing and chat in Pennsylvania German.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND Followers of the Pennsylvania German tradition of Groundhog Day gather Feb. 2 at Covered Bridge Park, South Whitehall, to see if Yadhe and Lee will see their shadows, predicting another six weeks of winter. Neither did, predicting an early spring.
Yadhe and grandson Lee make it safely across the Jordan Creek at the Groundhog Day celebration.
