MORGANTOWN — There are minor holidays celebrated worldwide that many people get involved in: April Fool’s Day, Friday the 13th and much more.
Another celebrated among several cultures is International Mud Day.
The celebration of playing in the mud began in 2009 and ever since, it has been celebrated all over the world.
It allows kids to get outside and use their creativity.
Caitland Farley, assistant director of Suncrest Childcare and Early Learning Center at Suncrest United Methodist Church, said in preparation for their first mud day, she reached out to parents to ask for any donations towards the event — whether it be buckets or pools. Then, she purchased the most important item: mud.
Farley was happy to get the kids outside in the nice weather Friday so they could be active and get dirty.
“Who doesn’t love mud?” Farley asked. “It was just a great day for the kids to get outside — it’s a beautiful day — and play in mud.”
Angelia Barnett, teacher at the Suncrest center, said for the kids to be able to go outside and enjoy the weather is important.
“What’s going on is kids are becoming technology kids,” Barnett said. “Today is the day to go out there, get dirty, get wet and enjoy outside.”
Barnett said she wants Mud Day to encourage kids to get outside and know it’s OK to get dirty.
“All my life I’ve played outdoors,” Barnett said. “I love mud day.”
Students at the WVU Childcare Learning Center also celebrated by playing at Krepps Park.
The WVU Childcare Learning Center has been celebrating this holiday for at least four years, and each year it is a day dedicated to getting in the mud.
Lead teacher of preschool, JJ Kolb, said the day is for kids to be outside and enjoy getting dirty.
“To have kids just putting mud pies in their hair is awesome,” Kolb said Friday morning. “They just get outside, to get away from technology, they get out in nature and they get to explore in everything around them and I love it.”
Kolb added that seeing the kids overcome any apprehension of drenching themselves in mud is enjoyable.
“To see them all get with nature and be outside — to face their fears of getting dirty and just realize it’s just a little dirt,” Kolb said. “They come out and they get as muddy as possible, their smiles and their laughter, they have so much fun.”
The best part for Kolb? The looks on the small faces.
“I just love seeing their smiles,” she said.
