Groundhog Day is next week. Pennsylvania has its famous February 2 weather prognosticator, Punxsutawney Phil. Lest you forget, in Georgia we have our own famous—well, sort of famous—Groundhog Day Weather Prognosticator—General Beauregard Lee. Below is his castle and signet,
General Beauregard Lee will emerge from his happy habitat early in the morning of February 2, to herald horrible or hopeful weather for the next six weeks. For decades General Beauregard Lee held forth from Stone Mountain, GA. Since 2018, he gleefully guided Groundhog Day celebrations from his cosy cove at Dauset Trails Nature Center, Jackson, GA.
Beginning in 1981 The General predicted three long winters and thirty-nine early springs (one year there was no report). Next Friday, we will learn if we will have an early Spring or a long Winter. Stay tuned. If you’re bustin’ to know his prognostication for 2024 immediately, you can scurry over to Dauset Trails Nature Center near Jackson, GA for February 2 —-be there before dawn for his report–and enjoy the celebration planned around this remarkable event. Who cares what Punxsutawney Phil says! The General has a 60% accuracy as contrasted with Punxsutawney Phil‘s weak 30% accuracy.
Georgia, with its motto—Wisdom, Justice, Moderation, stakes out a pretty substantial conflation of glory. Not so much with General Beauregard Lee. Right away his original name was a bit troublesome; the little rodent’s (Marmota monax, also known as a woodchuck) name was changed to the current one—more whimsical, not to mention more acceptable. The General started out at the Yellow River Game Ranch in DeKalb County, GA. The Game Ranch later fell into hard times, and caring souls saw to it that he came to live and thrive at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Butts County. Each year his February 2, festival draws crowds to celebrate—hopefully continuing his winning steak of predictions!
I have never made a Winter-Spring prediction, but I will take a stab at it here: look for an early Spring—Draw and Quarter me if I’m wrong. Groundhog Day gives a good reason to celebrate such a whimsical myth as this. In the midst of winter’s wrongs it is good to get a lift for the human spirit. Cold days and long nights tend to be mood altering. Although Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects less than 19% of the population, celebrating Groundhog Day just may fit the bill for us all.
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation points out that most of us are affected to one degree or another during cold, dark, shorter, solitary days of winter. Some folks have feelings of lethargy or loneliness which tend to cause “winter blues.” We all tend to go through winter blues sometimes—usually briefly. Maybe the Northern Mockingbird songs in mid-winter can draw us out of winter blues. Birdsong certainly is a cheerful contrast to gloom.
When Winter hits, myriad opportunities for joy and hope spring up all about; Winter Solstice, New Year’s Day, MLK Day of Service, Ground Hog Day, Mardi Gras, St. Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, and Easter–to name a few celebrations. Without researching it, I posit that most of these celebrations could also be means by which the human community can successfully navigate winter blues. Winter is a time of preparation for Spring and the rest of the seasons.
©Copyright Willis H. Moore January 2024