In many
countries it has long been the tradition to hold an annual tree
or forest festival. The origin of such celebrations dates back to
antiquity and is in the dawn of religious feeling and awe for what
trees represented. However, Arbor Day, as it is commonly known today,
is of American origin and evolved from 360 conditions peculiar to
the Great Plains.
It was first
observed in Nebraska in 1872. The idea, conceived by J.S. Morton,
then a member of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, was one
of forest conservation. It was a move to promote replanting, following
deforestation, and to plant up treeless areas. The idea has spread
widely to other lands where it is variously celebrated as the 'Festival
of Trees', 'Greening Week' of Japan, 'The New Year's Days of Trees'
in Israel, 'The Tree-loving Week' of Korea, 'The Reforestation Week'
of Yugoslavia, 'The Students' Afforestation Day' of Iceland and
'The National Festival of Tree Planting' in India. Arbor Day in
its various forms is now recognized in more than fifty countries.
