Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1970. By 1990 it had gone international and today over 190 countries worldwide take part in Earth Day celebrations.
While the reason for celebrating Earth Day remains the same in every part of the world, the types of celebrations are different everywhere. Some countries celebrate by planting trees or flowers, others have large parades and festivals and some have special seminars and exhibitions.
If you love to celebrate Earth Day but have always wondered how other countries do it, check out some of these fun Earth Day activities from around the world.
Parades are a popular way to celebrate Earth Day. While many parades include children dressed like trees and flowers and floats made of recycled materials, in Tokyo, the parades act as protests, with people marching in protective suits and holdings signs that say “No Nuclear Power.”
Participants carry a large traditional “koinobori” at a parade in Japan as part of an event for Earth Day in Tokyo pic.twitter.com/d99Q9OIM
— Sushil (@sushiru) April 26, 2012
In Hungary, people celebrate Earth Day by riding their bicycles during the Critical Mass Bicycle Ride. After the race, the cyclists meet at a park in Budapest where they celebrate with food, drinks and other fun Earth Day activities. There were many other Critical Mass bike rides around the world as well.
Critical Mass Budapest 20070922 Carfree Day http://t.co/OCFLn2JQYc
— Mocanu Dionise (@MocanuDionise) April 15, 2014
Insane Frenzied Traveling Piano Musical Improvisation Tonight while Lost in a 4000 Bicycle Miami Critical Mass Event pic.twitter.com/HXvlT6aX06
— Danny Kean (@DannyKean) March 1, 2014
Best bicycle from last nights Critical Mass Northampton. Pirates aplenty! Many thanks to the awesome @MinistryOfBikes pic.twitter.com/AD3jKahA3x
— Cycle Northants (@CycleNorthants) March 29, 2014
In New York City, the The Wildlife Conservation Society’s 96 Elephants campaign released 96 seconds of video footage of playful baby elephants. The film was made to show the world how baby elephants should be, but at the same time remind them that many of these baby elephants will grow up to be slaughtered for their ivory. The society says that on average, 96 elephants are killed every day in Africa.
Extended Play: 96 seconds of cute elephants for #EarthDay from @TheWCS https://t.co/DMOzMfQ21a #96Elephants
— WCS (@TheWCS) April 22, 2014
In Riga, Latvia, Homo Ecos is offering to teach people how to make planters out of recycled materials and how to plant and care for various types of plants and urban gardens.
Re-use for urban gardening by @lornajps #urbangarden #gardening #re-use pic.twitter.com/7ZgkdrCB1z
— Urban Gardeners Rep (@UrbGardenersRep) April 21, 2014
In Uganda, the 4-H Million Trees Project is working with school children to plant over 50,000 trees in honor of Earth Day. Many other organizations, schools and businesses also planted trees on Earth Day. In Ohio, many state parks urged campers to plant a tree to earn free camping stays.
Happy Earth Day! What are you doing to contribute to a greener environment?Click on the link to see what 4-H is doing!http://t.co/YmE5bGUQDa
— NE 4-H Foundation (@Ne4HFdtn) April 22, 2014
Are you planting a tree to celebrate #EarthDay? Call @JULIE1call at 811 before you dig. #Call811 pic.twitter.com/e0RK6OCJup
— Brookfield Zoo (@brookfield_zoo) April 22, 2014
Burrowing owls + @SpiderManMovie = a special #EarthDay volunteer project in Mountain View http://t.co/gsj6a1BdvF pic.twitter.com/0uSjA6288Y
— A Googler (@google) April 22, 2014
Cool #ArborDay idea @OhioStateParks -Plant Tree, Camp Free (Details: http://t.co/NeGlhrgJAr) pic.twitter.com/OauzBsvoks
— DiscoverOhio (@DiscoverOhio) April 22, 2014
How did you celebrate Earth Day this year?
Image via Wikimedia Commons