Arbor means tree. Arbor Day is a tree planting day celebrated all around the world, in over 40 countries, at different times of the year. Depending on the climate of the region and the ideal time for planting, Arbor Day ranges from November to August. In the United States, Arbor Day is celebrated in April.
When is Arbor Day
Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April.
This year, Arbor Day is on April 29, 2016.
What is Arbor Day?
Arbor Day is a holiday where people plant and care for trees. The first Arbor Day in the world began in the Spanish village of Mondoñedo in 1594. Lime and horse-chestnut trees were all the rage back then.
About 300 years later, America celebrated its first Arbor Day in Nebraska, on April 10, 1872. And an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska alone.
Turning our gaze to Asia, though a voluntary service, China laid it down with an iron fist (the country is so intense on so many levels.) In 1981, the Chinese Congress adopted the Resolution on the Unfolding of a Nationwide Voluntary Tree-planting Campaign. Which stipulated that every able-bodied citizen between the ages of 11 and 60 should plant three to five trees per year or do the equivalent amount of work in seedling, cultivation, tree tending or other services. ‘Every able-bodied citizen’ Ha! Sounds like mandatory military service. Better care for those trees.
Or else.
Happy Arbor Day!
You don’t have to plant a seedling. Tree hugging counts.
Now go play outside.
