SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Tuesday is Hoodie Hoo Day, and no place in Pennsylvania celebrates it quite like Schuylkill County.
The rallying cry to scare away winter has rung out at noon on February 20 for decades. The tradition was passed down on Tuesday at the Schuylkill Haven Senior Center on Haven Street, joined by children from the Jerusalem Lutheran Child Care Center.
The concept is simple; just ask the official queen of Hoodie Hoo, Janis Wise.
"Well, it's the official call, 'Hoodie Hoo, Hoodie Hoo, Hoodie Hoo.' It has to be precisely at 12 noon. You must wave things in the air that remind you of spring and just make a lot of noise."
Funny hats are also strongly encouraged. Schuylkill Haven Mayor Mike Devlin took part in the festivities, bringing with him an official proclamation from borough hall.
"Here in Schuylkill Haven, February 20, 2024, is now officially and will forever be known as Hoodie Hoo Day in Schuylkill Haven."
The folks here believe their wintertime holiday holds just as much legitimacy as that other one in Punxsutawney.
"The groundhog said we're going to have an early spring, not an instantaneous spring, so hopefully, this will help things along, and we'll have springtime pretty soon," said Cregg Moser.
But they believe they'll really get Hoodie Hoo Day on the map with a visit from a certain morning meteorologist and one of Schuylkill County's most famous residents.
"This is for you, Joe Snedeker," Wise said. "I am throwing down the gauntlet, very fashionable gauntlet, to be here next year, February 20, 2025. This is an important weather event that you should cover, and I challenge you also, bring Dick Yuengling with you!"