DLTK's Crafts for Kids
National Pig Day - March 1st
Photograph by Kenneth Schipper Vera on Unsplash
National Pig Day is a USA holiday that is celebrated every year on March 1st. The holiday was first started by two sisters named Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave. They felt that it was important to create a holiday to celebrate pigs, since they are intelligent and wonderful animals. Pigs are often thought of as farm animals and of course some of the most delicious meats come from pigs, like pork and bacon. But pigs aren't just food! Many people keep pigs as pets because they make very loyal and intelligent companions!
The origin of domesticated pigs goes back about 9000 years to China and areas of Western Asia. We can also trace back the origin of breeding pigs for pork consumption to about 3500 years ago in Europe. It wasn't until 1593 that pigs were first introduced to North America. Specifically, a Spanish explorer named Hernando DeSoto brought 13 pigs with him to what is now known as Tampa Bay, Florida.
Some Interesting Pig Facts:
- The Pig is the twelfth and final Chinese Zodiac Sign.
- Pigs are incredibly smart animals and only fall bellow other intelligent animals like chimpanzees and dolphins.
- Pigs are easier to train than dogs and have even been trained to do things like play video games, count, and recognize symbols!
- The oldest pig lived to be nearly 24 years old.
- Pigs are part of the Suidae family, which also includes animals like warthogs and wild boars.
- We often think about pigs rolling around in mud — this is called wallowing! One explanation for why pigs wallow is to cool off. Pigs have underdeveloped sweat glands so it is difficult for them to regulate their temperature, instead they can take a quick mud bath!
Below are a bunch of pig crafts and activities that will help you celebrate this fun day!
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Includes the story, crafts, and worksheets |
Pig Crafts: |
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preschoolers and up |
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Ages 2+ |
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Ages 5+ |
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Kindergarten and grade school |
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preschoolers and up |
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Other Holidays You May Be Interested In:
- Responsible Pet Owner's Month - February
- Year of the Pig (Chinese New Year) - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031