Plant a tree, go on a walk, and fill up your reusable water bottle because Earth Day is here. On April 22, we’ll celebrate the amazing planet we live on. In the midst of the many essential discussions we’re continuing to have on environmental topics from climate change to COVID-19, Earth Day also offers us a special opportunity to sit still and find gratitude for the Earth’s many blessings.
For those of you who don’t know how to celebrate Earth Day — or why we celebrate it, for that matter — we’ve got you covered. To help us bring this holiday into full motion, we spoke to a range of environmental specialists and Earth advocates. They shared perspectives on what Earth Day is and suggested some easy ways to celebrate at home.
What Is Earth Day?
For most people, Earth Day represents environmental preservation. “Earth Day is an annual worldwide environmental initiative that brings people together with the shared intention to protect the environment,” says Alannah Hardcastle, social impact manager at Random Acts of Green, a nonprofit organization that inspires climate action.
This day also serves as a reminder to recognize accomplishments in conservation efforts, according to Lisa Spicka, director of sustainability consulting at the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). In her conversation with DailyOM, she explained that Earth Day has inspired many acts of preservation such as pollution cleanup, afforestation, and the implementation of eco-friendly practices like recycling.
For others, like San Diego-based herbalist Jenelle Kim, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Earth Day provides an opportunity to deepen our spiritual connection with the Earth and those who live on it. “All the systems and parts of the natural world are interconnected, and we’re part of it all, too,” she says. “Earth Day is a perfect time to reflect on how our own bodies and lives are connected to the natural world.”
If you’re hoping to get a little more personal with Earth Day, there are many ways to celebrate at home.
While definitions may vary, the core intention behind Earth Day stays the same: to protect and honor the Earth.
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The History of Earth Day
Imagine the United States in 1960: the peak of industrialization in America, with factories spilling oil out into fields or blowing clouds of toxins into the sky, and no governmental regulations in place to protect the environment or the people, plants, and animals that inhabit it.
In an effort to turn this around, Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson initiated the very first Earth Day (a “trial run” of sorts) on April 22, 1970. On that day, more than 20 million Americans participated in the conservation effort. The results stunned everyone — even Nelson, who stated in 1980, “While I was confident that a nationwide peaceful demonstration of concern would be impressive, I was not quite prepared for the overwhelming response that occurred on that day.”
It was clear that Earth Day was a success, and it was going to stick. Amazingly, that first Earth Day became an important catalyst that led to the passage of many important legislations, including:
- Clean Air Act
- Clean Water Act
- Endangered Species Act
- Toxic Substances Control Act
- Safe Drinking Water Act
Earth Day Traditions From Around the World
Around the globe, Earth Day parades and festivals occur annually to highlight planet awareness. Here in the U.S., San Francisco will hold its 53rd Annual Earth Day Festival in Golden Gate Park on April 22. In Bend, Oregon, Earth Day has become a community event thanks to their annual Earth Day parade and festival with live music, food, and more. New York City’s Union Square Earth Day annual event features activist speakers and performers.
Another Earth Day tradition? Planting trees. Tree planting has become a national symbol of respect for the Earth, and many schools, offices, and families participate in this powerful practice. If you would like to support this initiative, an easy way to do so is to contribute to the nonprofit organization One Tree Planted. With every dollar raised, this group plants a tree. If you’re more “hands on,” consider starting your own tree-planting event for Earth Day at your work, school, or simply with friends in your own backyard.
5 Earth Day Rituals to Do at Home
If you’re hoping to get a little more personal in honoring Earth Day, there are many ways to celebrate at home. Here, our experts share a few simple ways to share your gratitude for the Earth.
1. Unplug
Hardcastle says one of the greatest ways to honor the Earth is to reduce your energy consumption. Put your phone, headphones, or laptop away and spend time outside enjoying nature’s music. You might go on a walk or a hike, but even sitting on a park bench for a few minutes will do the trick. Time spent connecting with nature can be restorative and make you appreciate the sounds, smells, and sights of the world around you.
2. Meditate
Emily Newman, a spiritual healer at Best of Psychic Readers, tells DailyOM that doing a grounding meditation is a perfect way to feel more connected to the Earth. She suggests this one:
- Sit in a clean and peaceful place (preferably outside!)
- Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Slowly inhale and exhale.
- Think about the Earth with compassion and love — as if thinking of a fond friend.
- As you do this, imagine that you have a cord connecting you from your heart through your spine into the Earth below you.
- Feel the Earth’s supportive energy and give it thanks. Consider that the Earth is giving you lots of energy and compassion in return.
3. Join a Webinar
According to Spicka, there are numerous online (and free!) webinars you can attend to learn more about the environment. She suggests a few to check out.
Earth Day Live: Debating Planet Earth’s Urgent Issues
This webinar will feature young environmental advocates speaking on the biggest climate-change issues the Earth currently faces — and how to move forward. Expect discussions on waste management and plastic pollution worldwide. Join on March 31, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET.
Earth Day, Every Day Webinar Series
Hosted by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Rutgers University in New Jersey, this webinar series aims to educate others on important environmental topics like climate-change storms, energy efficiency during winter, and limiting food waste. Join on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. ET.
2023 Earth Day Student Webinar
In this webinar, Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will invite their Water Resources staff to share impending dangers to the quality of their waters. They will also highlight teachers and students who are making a difference. Join on April 20, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET.
4. Clean Your Space
“The first Earth Day was purposefully in late April, a time when spring is in bloom,” explains Kim. Because of this holiday’s focus on detoxification, Kim says that spring cleaning is a perfect Earth Day activity. Clean your home of any debris or items that you feel hold weighted energy. Also, give your home a decorative upgrade to reflect spring colors.
5. Green Your Space
This is a pretty simple and fun exercise! Kim suggests “inviting more nature into your home” — which means bringing in (or picking) fresh flowers, adding more plants, and hanging nature pictures. You might also name your plants to get even more personal with them, she adds.
All in all, Earth Day is about connecting to the Earth, even in the simplest of ways. “One of the best ways to celebrate is to spend the day outside — by the ocean or somewhere you can be barefoot and ground yourself into the earth,” Kim says. Even if you can’t be on the beach or in the woods, take this as a gentle reminder to be in touch with the planet, and your place on it, this Earth Day — and every day.
