Once a year in April, planting a tree gets a whole day just to itself. Holes are dug, roots are lowered, photos are often taken and many people do all this without ever knowing the reason behind their labor.
So what exactly is Arbor Day?
The trees are very much the stars of the day, but it actually goes so much deeper than just planting trees. The day is set aside to create homes for wildlife, provide clean air and shade, build healthier communities and add natural beauty to the landscape.
The holiday’s roots trace back to Nebraska in the 1800’s. Pioneers made their way to the sun-drenched prairies and quickly realized the importance of trees, through the lack thereof. Without trees, they lacked shade, wildlife and essential resources.
In the mid to late 1800s, newspaper editor and Nebraska resident, J. Sterling Morton, advocated for the importance of trees. He later became secretary of the Nebraska territory and utilized his platform to promote conservation, and proposed a tree planting holiday called “Arbor Day”, on Jan. 4, 1872.
The celebration date was set for April 10 that same year. Prizes were awarded for the most properly planted trees. This incentive inspired Nebraskans to plant more than a million trees on the first Arbor Day.
Arbor Day was officially proclaimed in 1874, and became a legal state holiday in 1885. April 22 was chosen as its annual observance day. By 1920, more than 45 U.S. states and territories were observing Arbor Day. Today, Nebraska observes Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, though dates vary by state depending on local climate.
Since its founding in 1972, The Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant more than 500 million trees worldwide. Working in cities and forests alike, the foundation helps plant approximately 5 million trees across just the United States every year, continuing Morton’s vision of restoration and growth.
The holiday has grown into an international celebration of trees. Australia marks Arbor Week several times a year. South Africa and parts of Canada also hold Arbor Week events. The United Kingdom celebrates Tree Week. Iceland holds Students’ Afforestation Day, Mexico celebrates Dia del Arbol (day of the tree) and Japan celebrates Midori Noni (greenery day or week).
No matter the name or date, Arbor Day remains a time dedicated to rebuilding the earth. It unites nations around a shared goal: helping the planet and each other.
Happy Arbor Day!
