THE REVERED RODENT!

It was medieval belief that hibernating animals, on Candlemas Day, left their dens to observe the weather, forecasting an early or late planting season. If the otter or badger comes out and sees his shadow, planting will have to wait because of more snow and cold. But if the badger comes out and doesn't see his shadow, farmers can soon start planting their crops.

In Germany it was the badger who predicted the farmers planting time. When German settlers came to America, badgers weren't prominent, especially in Pennsylvania. Thus, the immigrants transferred the weather belief to the groundhog, also known as a woodchuck.

The first German settlers to celebrate the weather prediction tradition, in the early 1800s, were those from Punxsutawney, a small town in Western Pennsylvania. In 1886, this group of settlers was named the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club by the editor of the town's newspaper. On Feb. 2, 1887, their first official trek was made to Gobbler's Knob to seek the forecast of Punxsutawney Phil, the original groundhog.

Thereafter, the groundhog was considered "Seer of Seers" and "King of the Weather Prophets," bringing in thousands of tourists to hear the annual weather forecast on Feb. 2.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!!