National Earth Day

Welcome to our wondrous journey into the heart of National Earth Day. Put on your eco-friendly wooden sunglasses and organic cotton cap and step aboard our virtual, solar-powered internet time machine as we dig into the digital hills of Earth Day history.

When is Earth Day?

It's national earth day on the 22nd April.

A Brief History of National Earth Day

Once upon a time, in the mystic lands of the Internet realm, a novel idea started to spread like wild vines across the digital landscape. That idea was the National Earth Day. Just like a planting season, our records show that the mentions of Earth Day grew over time, thriving in the fertile soils of cyberspace.

The seed was first sown on April 22, 1970, in the offline world, a day now considered the birthday of modern environmental movement. However, it wasn’t until the digital age when the message really went viral.

The Viral Earth Day

While we identified a healthy 3078 mentions online, the climax of the Earth Day narrative happened on April 22, 2016. Why this specific date? Unknown to many, 2016 was the year the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed - an event that stirred up worldwide enthusiasm for environmental protection. This might have pressured many a keyboard warrior to make their mark.

So there you have it folks, a brief amble through history along the green path of National Earth Day, thanks to the magical internet time machine!

History behind the term 'Earth'

2500 BCE

Emergence of the Term 'Earth'

The term 'Earth' originated from the Old English word 'eorþe', which can be traced back to the Germanic and Indo-European language families. In ancient times, people referred to the land as 'eorþe,' which eventually evolved into the term we use today.

1500 BCE

Earth as a Symbol of Fertility

Throughout various ancient civilizations, Earth was associated with fertility and the nurturing qualities of the planet. In Mesopotamian culture, the goddess Inanna represented the Earth and was believed to bring fertility to the land. Similarly, in Ancient Egypt, the goddess Isis was often connected to the Earth's bountifulness.

500 BCE

Greek Philosophers and Earth's Elemental Role

Greek philosophers, such as Thales and Empedocles, believed in the concept of four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Earth was considered one of the fundamental elements and was associated with qualities such as stability, heaviness, and being the foundation of all things.

1543 CE

Copernican Revolution: Earth as a Planet

The publication of Nicolaus Copernicus' seminal work, 'On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres,' revolutionized the understanding of Earth's position in the universe. Copernicus proposed that Earth was not at the center of the cosmos, but instead orbited the Sun, just like other planets. This heliocentric model challenged existing beliefs and laid the foundation for modern astronomy.

1969 CE

Earth from the Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission

On July 20th, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission achieved a milestone in human history by landing the first astronauts on the Moon. As part of their historic journey, the astronauts captured an image of Earth from the lunar surface. Known as the 'Earthrise' photograph, this awe-inspiring image showcased the beauty and fragility of our planet, leaving a lasting impact on humanity's relationship with Earth.