One of the most overlooked and forgotten holidays is Earth Day. Some might think this is just a day when environmentalists tell you to recycle more, or a day where you are supposed to love the Earth an extra amount. While saving and loving the Earth is important, Earth Day is much more than that.

For those that don’t know, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. The holiday was originally created in 1970 by a peace activist to serve as a day for people to peacefully protest environmental reform. It began in the United States, but just twenty years later it was celebrated in over 140 other countries. So, if you think about the history and origins of this holiday, it’s pretty great. It was started peacefully to help better the planet and is celebrated worldwide. What could be wrong with that?

Now that you have a little information on the holiday, you still might be wondering “how does this affect me?” Celebrating Earth Day goes beyond saying you love the Earth or carpooling to school that particular morning. There is so much more you can do to help the planet. First, you can start by promising change in your life. Getting a recycling bin, using biodegradable plates, starting a compost pile or even planting a garden shows that you are putting in that much more effort to help make the Earth a better place. If you want to get out and be active, enjoy the day and all the beauty that the Earth has to offer by taking a hike or walking in one of your favorite areas. Even if it’s a path you walk everyday, pay closer attention to all the beauty that surrounds you while you’re walking. Another small activity you can do is plant a tree. You might not feel like you are contributing much, but planting a tree helps in so many different ways. Whether you recycle a bottle, go on a hike or add a new addition to your greenery in your backyard, make sure you do something to celebrate this Earth Day.

If you’re all out of ideas on what you can do to help, don’t worry. St. Louis has one of the biggest Earth Day celebrations around. This year, the celebration is taking place at the Muny in Forest Park on April 22 and 23. This two day celebration is filled with tons of information on sustainability, teaching about Earth Day values, performances of live music and hands-on activities to get you involved. Admission to the event is free, so you might as well head down to Forest Park, and learn more about how to help the Earth.

This Earth Day, do something different. Even if you do something small, you are still making an impact on the Earth and that is the whole purpose of the day. This day only comes once a year, so make sure you’re loving the Earth just as much during the other 364 days of the year too.