World Bamboo Day: Thousands Of Reasons To Celebrate!

Mark your calendars – World Bamboo Day is September 18^th!

For anyone who thinks it’s an odd holiday to have, consider that there are already plenty of officially declared days celebrating much less industrious items and happenings (i.e. National Upsy Daisy Day on June 8 or National Salami Day on September 7^th). Because of its uses for everything from an economy booster to bamboo bed linens, the Thai Royal Forest Department declared World Bamboo Day during the 8^th World Bamboo Congress in 2009. The declaration is meant to increase the awareness of bamboo globally. In areas where bamboo grows naturally, bamboo is a daily element in the lifestyle, but the World Bamboo Organization wants to bring the potential of bamboo to a more elevated exposure. Members share the goal of protecting the natural bamboo resource and guiding it to sustainable development while promoting bamboo as a new cultivation for industries and increasing traditional uses at a local level.

Certainly, the uses of bamboo are becoming more apparent worldwide. Everyday there are more examples found of bamboo uses in sustainable architecture, bridge-building, emergency relief efforts and transportation. The bamboo fiber is reaching an even larger market with more consumers taking advantage of the luxuriously soft fabric to produce everything from bamboo clothes to organic bamboo sheets.

While countries such as India, China and Thailand work to sustain their bamboo forest development, countries on this side of the globe (including the United States) are looking to bamboo as a potentially viable crop to help struggling farmers in ravaged regions. The development of domestic bamboo resources would give a means of production and reduce the amount of exports needed for countries to begin producing bamboo products en masse.

To celebrate the most recent World Bamboo Day, a ceremonial bamboo planting took place in which a representative from each member country planted a bamboo seedling in symbolic gesture of support for the mission of the World Bamboo Congress. Organizers encourage everyone to participate in World Bamboo Day by planting bamboo, building with bamboo, wearing bamboo, eating bamboo or by simply walking among the bamboo.

Already, there are festivities in the works for this years’ celebration (click here for a listing). In Nagaland (a state in Northeastern India), a three day festival is planned. With representatives from around the world in attendance including the World Bamboo Organization and the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency, the festival will highlight a region that is home to 5% of India’s growing stock of bamboo. Planned activities include a cultural program, a bamboo planting, a bamboo field visit, a crafts and painting contest, symposium and workshops and a bamboo food and music festival. Organizers are even asking visitors to work up a sweat with the inaugural bamboo sport competition and a “Run For Bamboo” semi marathon.