Arbor Day in Mississippi

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Second Friday in February

Tree planting festivals have been popular dating back to the earliest days of civilization. Sacred trees, planted roadsides and shaded school walks were common long before North America was discovered.  

But Arbor Day is purely American in origin. It was first observed in the State of Nebraska in 1872.  

At Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1882, they held their first Arbor Day and introduced two new elements into observance. First, the day was declared a school festival, and second the practice of planting a memorial tree was inaugurated. These new developments were largely responsible for the acceptance of Arbor Day over the rest of the United States.

It wasn’t until 1926 in Mississippi that Arbor Day became an official day of observance. In section 5, Chapter 161 of the 1926 Mississippi Code, the State and County Boards of Education were directed to set aside a special day each year in the public schools.

. . .”on which day ornamental and shade trees, flowers, etc., are to be placed where practical on the grounds surrounding all public school houses.” Later, the second Friday in February was firmly adopted as the day on which the state would annually observe Arbor Day.

View Arbor Day and Tree Planting Week Proclamation by Governor Bryant

2012 Mississippi Arbor Day Celebration at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

Arbor Day Poster Contest

"Happy Trees, Happy People!"  Theme for the 2012 Arbor Day Poster Contest for 5th Grade Students and Teachers.  Poster Contest Rules and Information.  Deadline for contest:  March 30, 2012.