Between the beautiful views, luscious landscape, and bountiful critters on the Drummond Ranch, every day is like Earth Day. Whether there's a watercolor sunset or rainbow brightening the Oklahoma sky, the stretch of land has a way of evoking appreciation and awe in anyone who gets to experience it. "Being on the ranch, absent the buildings and highways of cities, we're really able to see the four seasons of the year in all their dramatic glory," Ree says. "Watching the day-by-day (and sometimes hour-by-hour) transformation of brown-gray earth to vibrant green abundance is truly something to behold."
But you don't have to live on the Drummond ranch to feel that same way! Maybe you've cultivated a glorious wildflower garden or simply have a favorite local spot in nature. Either way, there are endless reasons to celebrate the planet on a day such as Earth Day!
Every year, billions of people across the globe recognize Earth Day to show support for our planet and the environment. Whether that's by getting out in your garden, taking a hike, or participating in one of the many other Earth Day activities. Actually, it's widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world. Because whether you're enamored by the incredible countryside like Ree or prefer areas like beautiful beaches or thick forests, there's so much to celebrate. After all, it's our home!
But you might be wondering how exactly an Earth Day celebration came to be...and when the annual event takes place in 2025. So, to learn the interesting history of the holiday, when Earth Day is happening, and several ways you can spend the day, just read on.
What is Earth Day and why is it celebrated?
For over 50 years, Earth Day has been celebrated across the planet as a way to educate the masses about the environment, enact conservation efforts, and promote action towards the environmental movement. It's a day of action to adjust human behavior and create policy changes for the good of Mother Earth. The annual event is marked with a wide range of events that are coordinated globally by earthday.org—reaching 1 billion people in more than 193 countries!
Who invented Earth Day?
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 after Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin decided he wanted to bring awareness to the dangers of air and water pollution. He was then joined by Congressman Pete McCloskey and activist Denis Hayes, and together they started organizing teach-ins across the United States to further their cause.
The movement grew quickly, reaching various organizations, faith groups, and other associations who wished to participate in efforts to protect the planet against things like deforestation, oil spills, pollution, pesticides, and more. Soon after, an estimated 20 million people were attending inaugural events nationwide. Eventually, that initial date was picked to be known as Earth Day.
When is Earth Day in 2025?
Earth Day arrives each spring, a fitting time for a celebration of nature. With warmer weather, vibrant greenery, and flowers in full bloom, the season itself symbolizes renewal and growth. Amid this transformation comes a day dedicated to appreciating and protecting the planet: April 22. This year, it falls on a Tuesday.
It's no coincidence Earth Day lands on such a quintessentially spring day! Organizers Hayes, Nelson, and McCloskey strategically selected April 22 to ensure maximum participation. Since the movement initially targeted college students, they chose a date that wouldn’t conflict with spring breaks, final exams, or major religious holidays. Additionally, by opting for late April, they increased the chances of fair weather, making it ideal for outdoor events and activities.
And did you know that every Earth Day has a theme? According to earthday.org, this year's theme is "Our Power, Our Planet." The mission is simple: The organization aims to "triple renewable energy generation by 2030 to fully harness the potential of our planet’s abundant resources: solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and tidal energy." They invite you to join the cause!
How do you celebrate Earth Day?
We brought up outdoor activities for a reason—that's because Earth Day is full of them! If you're going to celebrate our planet and everything it has to offer, the best way to do that is among nature. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get outside and commemorate the day.
A few popular Earth Day activities include picking up litter, planting a tree, riding a bike instead of taking a car, making a bird feeder, or eating sustainably. You can even take it up a notch by educating yourself on conservation efforts, donating to your favorite environmental non-profit or volunteering with a local environmental organization—you can usually find plenty of community organized events around the holiday that are designed to help the planet. Earthday.org even lists official mobilization efforts that you can join.
You can also keep it simple by just admiring the great outdoors: Go for a walk, pack a picnic, or take yourself on a nature scavenger hunt. You might even post a few photos of your favorite views using Earth Day quotes as your caption. As long as you're working to make our world a happier and healthier place to live, there's no wrong way to do it!
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
