Georgia's General Beauregard Lee Makes His Prediction For Spring

GEORGIA — There will be an early spring in Georgia, according to the state's official weather prognosticator, Gen. Beauregard Lee.

Lee did not see his shadow Thursday, Groundhog Day, according to the Dauset Trails Nature Center. Lee is housed at the center in Jackson.

His prediction failed to coincide with that of Punxsutawney Phil, who predicted six more weeks of winter.

Lee was originally housed at the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary in Gwinnett County, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. His lineage in weather predictions on Groundhog Day stretch back to 1981, the outlet reported.

Groundhog Day is observed on Feb. 2 because the Christian holiday of Candlemas Day was traditionally celebrated then. On that day, Christians would take their candles to the church to be blessed to bring good fortune to their households for the rest of winter.

Germans expanded on the concept by selecting a hedgehog as a way of predicting weather for the rest of winter. Yes, it was strange. German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition but switched to groundhogs, which are numerous in the state.