Funny Holidays - International Mud Day

Modern children living in megacities spend very little time in nature and in direct contact with the earth. Meanwhile, many bacteria live in the soil, which strengthen our immunity, in contrast to the sterile environment, which makes the body vulnerable to various types of viruses and microbes. This was noticed in 2008 by Gillian McAuliffe from Australia and Bishnu Bhatta from Nepal, the authors of a project aimed at bringing children closer to nature. On their initiative, June 29 is celebrated as International Dirt Day. International Mud Day has funny traditions. On this day, all participants in the celebration, regardless of age, gender and race, get dirty in the mud. On the one hand, this action makes people closer to each other and the world around them. Covered in dirt, we all look the same. On the other hand, the holiday draws attention to the importance of soil for human life, which contains a lot of minerals and other useful substances. Therefore, for example, mud masks and clay body wraps are among the most popular procedures in spa salons. The Bible says: “We came out of the earth, and into the earth we will go.” Another famous quote from the Old Testament is “...The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground.” According to the tenets of Christianity, the Creator sculpted the first man, Adam, from clay. All of these statements highlight the symbolism and importance of the earth's surface. Clay can be conventionally called the dust of the earth, since it represents the smallest fractions of the same minerals and chemical elements as the soil. Therefore, the tradition of getting dirty in honor of International Mud Day has a deep sacred meaning: in this way a person becomes closer to his origins and nature. The holiday, celebrated on June 29, draws people's attention to the importance of the presence of microflora on the skin of the body. He contrasts contact with dirt with frequent hand washing and regular treatment of surfaces with antiseptics, which have become an indispensable attribute of modern life. About 840 thousand microorganisms live on the palms, fingers and under the nails, most of which are important for maintaining the dermal microbiome. These bacteria feed on skin secretions, cleansing and enriching the body with useful substances. The composition of each person's microflora is unique. As does its function in protecting against diseases transmitted by contact. International Dirt Day does not call for abandoning body hygiene and hand washing. The holiday reminds us that this should be done as the skin becomes contaminated in order to preserve existing beneficial microorganisms. Mud is used by tribes living in a primitive communal system in the forests of the Amazon and Africa for camouflage during hunting. Domestic animals, such as pigs, use it to cool the body and regulate body temperature. Mud wraps help cure rheumatism and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. People have long made household utensils, decorative items and bricks from clay, a loose mixture of minerals, soil and silt. Therefore, International Dirt Day is not just a funny celebration, but a celebration of knowledge of the surrounding world and the unity of man with nature.