Frog Jumping Day

Jumping Frog Day is an annual holiday dedicated to jumping frogs. Sometimes frogs are even specially trained for long jumps.

The History

The holiday’s origin dates back to 1865, when Mark Twain’s short story, The Famous Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, appeared in newspapers. Jim Smiley taught his frog to jump, them made a bet with a man whose frog jumped very high and far. The man tricked Jim and won.

Another version says this holiday appeared because of an annual Jumping Frog Festival, held in Valley City since 1962. About 600 people are active participants. The main event is making the frog jump as far as it can. People shout loudly and gesture to scare frogs. The spectacle is watched by thousands.

The exact version of the holiday’s origin and the date of May 13 remain unknown. Jumping Frog Day exists. It is a good day to celebrate frogs’ agility, as some can jump up to 50 times their body length (like Australian frogs).

Interesting Facts

You might be interested to know:

1. The largest frog is the Goliath. It can weigh 3 kg, and can jump 2.5-3 meters.
2. The smallest frogs are from Cuban. An adult’s length is 1 centimeter.
3. In water, frogs get oxygen through their skin pores.
4. Frogs in the South of the United States and Central America have skin mucus, which has hallucinogenic properties.

When is Frog Jumping Day celebrated in 2024?

Frog Jumping Day is observed on May 13 each year.

Observations