128 Grundsow Lodge Nummer Ains on da Lechaw – (Groundhog Lodge Number One on the Lehigh)
In this scene King Groundhog is munching on a head of cabbage while making his grand entrance at the Fersommling (Banquet) on February 2nd 1968. World War I caused many Americans to become suspicious of the Pennsylvania Germans and resentful of anyone who spoke German. As a result many locals began changing their last names and a general decline in the dialect began. Many people did not want to be identified as a German. By 1933 many prominent farmers, business men and professionals saw a need to preserve the Pennsylvania German dialect and heritage. They adopted the groundhog and Groundhog Day as a reason for getting together to celebrate and speak only the Pennsylvania German dialect. Every English word spoken cost a penalty of 10 cents a word (now 36 cents) which is donated to Easter Seals. The first “Fersommling” was held on February 2, 1934.
128 Grundsow Lodge Nummer Ains on da Lechaw – (Groundhog Lodge Number One on the Lehigh)
In this scene King Groundhog is munching on a head of cabbage while making his grand entrance at the Fersommling (Banquet) on February 2nd 1968. World War I caused many Americans to become suspicious of the Pennsylvania Germans and resentful of anyone who spoke German. As a result many locals began changing their last names and a general decline in the dialect began. Many people did not want to be identified as a German. By 1933 many prominent farmers, business men and professionals saw a need to preserve the Pennsylvania German dialect and heritage. They adopted the groundhog and Groundhog Day as a reason for getting together to celebrate and speak only the Pennsylvania German dialect. Every English word spoken cost a penalty of 10 cents a word (now 36 cents) which is donated to Easter Seals. The first “Fersommling” was held on February 2, 1934.