Arbor Day 2025: What to know about the holiday celebrating trees
Arbor Day is April 25, marking a day of hope and appreciation for trees and all that they bring to the environment for those who celebrate.
Trees help to reduce the erosion of topsoil caused by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate temperatures, clean the air and also provide habitats for wildlife, according to the Arbor Day Foundation in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Trees are renewable resources, or natural but limited energy resources that can be replenished, and Arbor Day is a day created to celebrate them.
Arbor Day is also celebrated in other countries such as Barbados, China and the Philippines. In the U.S., it is commonly celebrated on the last Friday of April, but many states observe it on different dates depending on the best planting times in those areas, the Arbor Day Foundation said on its website. Celebrations include tree-planting events and seedling giveaways.
Here's how Arbor Day came to be, and how people can get out of the house to celebrate.
The holiday dates back to the 1800s, when journalist Julius Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska with his wife. They moved there in 1854 and bought 160 acres of land, mostly on the flat plains, per History.com.
The pair planted trees and shrubs, and when Morton became editor of the state's newspaper, Nebraska City News, he stressed just how vital plants and trees were.
With rapid settlement and industrialization taking place during the late 19th century, a large amount of forest resources were consumed, according to the Forest Historical Society. The U.S. population tripled, and with each person came the plowing of another three to four acres of land.
Morton also joined the Nebraska Board of Agriculture and in January 1872, he had an idea to encourage Nebraskans to plant trees in their communities. It was called "Sylvan Day," a nod to forest trees, and it was officially celebrated on April 10, 1872. Eventually, the day was known as Arbor Day, according to History.com.
Arbor Day became an official state holiday in Nebraska in 1885, History.com said on its website.
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Arbor Day is not a federal holiday. However, it was first recognized nationally in 1970 by then-president Richard Nixon. Two years later, on April 24, 1972, Nixon issued a proclamation commemorating 100 years of Arbor Day.
He quoted a monument in Nebraska City honoring Morton, who created Arbor Day.
"Other Holidays Repose Upon The Past; Arbor Day Proposes For The Future," Nixon wrote in his proclamation. "So it does, for the planting of trees is an action that yields a long-range benefit on generations to come. Arbor Day uniquely symbolizes the truth that the earth belongs to every generation, not just to ours."
He proclaimed April 28, 1972 as National Arbor Day and encouraged Americans across the country to celebrate and do what they could to spread the word of "the necessity and value of this elemental natural resource."
When Arbor Day was first celebrated in April 1872, children in Nebraska planted more than one million trees, according to the Forest Historical Society.
Tree-planting became even more popular among schools in 1882, and children were sent home with trees to plant in their own yards, reported History.com.
While people of all ages celebrate Arbor Day, some notable children's activities the Arbor Day Foundation suggests include:
Organizing nature art shows
Baking cookies and cupcakes with tree designs
Making green drinks such as bubble tea, milkshakes and iced coffee
Planting, hugging, climbing, adopting, or sponsoring trees
Getting outside to visit a local park or forest, or clean one up
Organizing a nature or tree scavenger hunt
Gathering a bag of leaves and trying to identify the species of trees
Find out when Arbor Day is celebrated in your state, and which events are happening in your area at Arborday.org.
Contributing: Julia Gomez
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arbor Day 2025: What to know about the holiday celebrating trees
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