began settling in Pennsylvania, they brought this European tradition
with them. Since groundhogs were plentiful and resembled the hedgehogs they had known in Europe, the settlers decided that the groundhog would be the perfect weather forecaster to take up the tradition. In 1886, the first recorded prediction "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary'' was published in "The Punxsutawney Spirit" newspaper. This event also marked the first official Groundhog Day celebration.
Pennsylvania Tradition