National Prairie Day
National Prairie Day:
National Prairie Day is celebrated every year on the first Saturday in June, recognizing the richest ecosystems on our planet.
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2022 | 4th June | Saturday | United States |
2023 | 3th June | Saturday | United States |
2023 | 1st June | Saturday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#NationalPrairieDay
#PrairieDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on June:
National Nursing Assistants Day
Why National Prairie Day?
Covering many American states and Canadian provinces, the prairie land in North America is among the largest of the grasslands with greater beauty and a diverse ecology like none other. They are valued a lot for their fertile lands perfect for ranching and farming. And yet, only about 1% of the land is preserved from development or farming. It is therefore the need of the hour to educate people about the importance of the prairie lands and this day is just the occasion to do so.
Prairie lands play a vital role in the cultural and environmental past and future of human society and we need to remember their role in our growth. And yet these lands are endangered and we need to remind people about the importance of these lands and how they are important to our lives. It is a day to remind ourselves of our unique ecosystem and learn to appreciate the same. It is a day to protect the beauty of these grasslands and how they serve to protect our lives.
How can we celebrate National Prairie Day?
If you are looking for ideas to spruce up the day celebrating the prairie grasslands, then here are some ideas and activities that you can make use of.
- It is just the day for you to learn about the prairie lands and other interesting facts about our ecosystem. You can find out the role, these grasslands have to play in the development of the country both culturally and economically.
- If you understand the importance of these grasslands, then you can use this day to donate to a cause associated with the preservation of these lands. Many groups work towards the conservation of prairie and on this day you can learn about them and then contribute to the cause.
- If possible, this is just the day to take a trip to the prairie lands near you. You would be surprised by the lush greenery and the variety it has to offer.
No matter how you choose to enjoy this day, you can share your thoughts, pictures, ideas, and more on your social media with the #NationalPrairieDay.
Interesting facts about National Prairie Day:
Prairies have been playing a vital role in the flourishing of the ecosystem and on this day, let us get to know more about the prairies.
- The prairie schooners was the name of the wagon used by Americans when they traveled westward in the 1800s and these wagons are covered and headed towards grasslands.
- The burrows of the prairie dogs underground are called as towns and these underground burrows can run to thousands of acres with plenty of prairie dogs living together. They maintain a very complicated relationship system.
- The plains were inhabited by more than 60 million bison when the Europeans landed in America but by the year 1885, it went down to as low as 600.
- An acre of prairie can easily absorb as much as one ton of carbon every year, saving our ecosystem and helping us fight climate change.
- Nearly 40% of the earth’s surface is covered in grasslands, of which there are two kinds, the tropical grasslands, and the temperate grasslands.
- Wildfires can be destructive in any other place but in a prairie, it is a blessing in disguise. These lands have more than 75% of their biomass under the ground which means that they can easily survive and thrive even after a wildfire. It is shown that fire is an important element for the survival of the grasslands and they are generally between mountain and desert climates.
- The North American prairies were formed nearly 8000 years ago when the glaciers receded giving way to highly fertile soil, North American prairies.
- The Dust Bowl disaster swept through US and Canada in the 1930s which resulted in soil erosion, leaving the soil unfertile and not able to produce crops.
History of National Prairie Day:
The day was founded by Christine Chiu, founder of Missouri Prairie Foundation in the year 2015. She founded the day to educate people about our ecosystems, educate them about conservation and restoration of prairies, which is an integral part of our ecosystem.