Paul Bunyan Day
About Paul Bunyan Day
When is Paul Bunyan Day? This holiday is always celebrated on June 28
Paul Bunyan Day is a giant of a day. Paul Bunyan was a gigantic lumberjack of American Folklore. According to folklore, Paul Bunyan and Babe His Blue Ox lived and traveled around the country. He is best known for his logging feats. This June 28 holiday celebrates one of the greatest stories in American folklore.
Paul Bunyan is “credited” with many deeds. Among his more legendary feats:
- He created logging in the U.S.
- He scooped out the great lakes to water Babe the ox.
- He cleared the entire states of North and South Dakota for farming.
- He trained ants to do logging work. They were, of course, Carpenter Ants.
- Babe’s large footprints created Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
Today’s Theme Song: The Ballad of Balul Bunyan (1973)
The Birthplace of Paul Bunyan
Maine is the birthplace of the lumber industry. The city of Bangor, Maine boasts that their city is the birthplace of renowned lumberjack Paul Bunyan. They even have his birth certificate on display as proof. However, Minnesota also claims to be his birthplace.
In his honor, the city of Bangor unveiled a giant statue of him on February 12, 1959. This was the 125th anniversary of his birth. While there are other statues of him, this is the world’s largest. It is 31 feet high and weighs 3,700 pounds. It is hurricane-proof to winds of 110 mph.
Although the statue in Bangor, Maine is the largest, there are at least a dozen statues of him around the country. They are primarily in Maine, Minnesota, and other states in the Midwest where he was known to travel and work.
How to Celebrate Paul Bunyan Day
You can celebrate this special holiday in a giant way.
- Learn more about the man and his tales.
- Spread the tales around. They are best told by word of mouth around a campfire.
- Visit one of his statues. They are found from coast to coast.
Today's Quote
“Ten people who speak make more noise than 10,000 who are silent.” – – Napoleon Bonaparte.
History and Origin of Paul Bunyan Day
French Canadians created the first legends of Paul Bunyan during the Papineau rebellion of 1837. Paul Bunyan with Babe the Blue Ox quickly became a huge American legend, traveling all over the Midwest. Many of the tales originated in the lumberjack industry and logging communities. Like all good folklore, folks passed this story from generation to generation by word of mouth. Over campfires, his legend grew, and tales were created. Written tales emerged in the early 1900s.
We are not certain why Paul Bunyan Day is on June 28. His birthday is February 12, 1834.
Did You Know? Paul Bunyan’s birth certificate is on display in the city clerk’s office in Bangor, Maine.
This Day in History
In addition to Paul Bunyan Day, here are a couple of other things that happened on June 28:
- Colonel Robert Gibbon eats a tomato on the steps of the courthouse in Salem, MA. proving that they are not poisonous. (1820)
- Professor Stephen Hawking hosts a ‘party for time travelers’ at the University of Cambridge. Invitations are not sent out until after the party. (2009)
- We celebrate the birth in South Africa of Elon Musk, Entrepreneur, inventor, Tesla Motors, Space-X on this day in 1971.
More June 28 Holidays
Additionally, people who like Paul Bunyan Day, will also like:
More About Today
Learn more about the “goings on” on this date.
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date in June. See what happened on this date in history.
Famous June Birthdays – Did you ever wonder what famous people share your birth date? If so, then find out now!
Ecards – Send a free Ecard daily for Paul Bunyan Day or just about any calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Undoubtedly, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Flower of the Day: Maltese Cross
Recipe of the Day: Oregano Lima Beans with Diced Carrots
Holiday Insights, where every day in June is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Besides Paul Bunyan Day and celebrating Babe the Blue Ox, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. And many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. June holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.