Groundhog Day 2025: The 5 biggest moments in the history of the holiday

2024 saw the initial publication of

New York’s Staten Island.There have been several remarkable accidents on Groundhog Day, which is usually a fun family event where a fuzzy woodchuck predicts the weather.

While the majority of years go off without a hitch, some are remembered for less positive reasons.

Here is a summary of five significant events:

1. Tragic Fall (2014)

A sad occurrence occurred on February 2, 2014, as a result of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mismanagement of Staten Island Chuck, who was portrayed by 10-month-old stand-in Charlotte. The mayor dropped the groundhog, which passed away a few days later. According to the Staten Island Zoo, de Blasio’s activities had nothing to do with the tragedy.

2. 2009’s Biting Banter

Chuck refused to leave his home in 2009 and nipped Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he tried to entice him out with corn and sweets, posing an unexpected obstacle. Chuck and Bloomberg’s humorous story, which included a chocolate offering and a lighthearted reaction with boxing gloves, began with this occurrence.

3. 2015’s Early Surprise

When Jimmy the Groundhog nibbled Mayor Jonathan Freund’s ear during the prediction routine on February 1, 2015, Wisconsin’s Groundhog Day celebration took an unexpected turn. Even though it was only a snack, it startled the mayor and gave the yearly event a distinctive touch.

4. In 2018, The Great Groundhog Getaway

The Shubenacadie On February 2, 2018, a Canadian groundhog named Sam made news after he attempted a risky escape from his Nova Scotian enclosure.A reporter intervened and caught the furry fugitive on camera. He resisted briefly before giving in to captivity.

VIDEO: The media was allowed to enter @ShubenacadieSam’s enclosure after he gave his forecast and the crowds dispersed.Then he made an attempt to flee.www.twitter.com/K72PZgThtm pictures

5. The 2016 Hedgehog Hero

Otis the hedgehog made the prediction in 2016 after Essex Ed, the groundhog prognosticator at Turtle Back Zoo, missed his crucial day.

Officials blamed warm temperatures for Ed’s odd hibernation behavior, according to NJ.com. Luckily, Otis filled in for his famous friend with ease. In addition to forecasting a long winter, Otis was wrong when he said the Carolina Panthers would defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.