National Orchid Day: A Tribute to Love and Loss

National Orchid Day Honors a Daughter's Legacy on April 16

**April 16: A Day for Tubers and Heartbreak—The Story Behind National Orchid Day** At first glance, **April 16** might seem like just another quirky entry in the global calendar of oddball holidays—a day dedicated to the knobby roots of orchids. But behind **National Orchid Day**, observed in the U.S. since 2015, lies a story far more poignant than mere botanical celebration. It's a tale worth telling.

**Table of Contents** **[Hide]** * **1 Who Created National Orchid Day?** * **2 When Is National Orchid Day?** * **3 Why Does the U.S. Celebrate Orchids on April 16?** * **4 Further Reading and Sources on National Orchid Day (April 16)**

Who Created National Orchid Day?

The campaign to establish **National Orchid Day** began in 2015, spearheaded by American couple **Mike and Faith Young** in collaboration with the team at **National Day Calendar**. Together, they designated **April 16** as the official date for this observance. The choice had nothing to do with the other quirky holidays sharing the same day—whether **World Voice Day**, **World Semicolon Day**, **National Eggs Benedict Day**, or even **Wear Pajamas to Work Day**. (At least, no connection emerged during research for this piece.)

When Is National Orchid Day?

Since 2015, the United States has marked **National Orchid Day** every year on **April 16**. Here's how the date falls in the coming years: | Year | Date | Day of the Week | |------|------------|------------------| | 2025 | April 16 | Wednesday | | 2026 | April 16 | Thursday | | 2027 | April 16 | Friday | | 2028 | April 16 | Sunday | | 2029 | April 16 | Monday | | 2030 | April 16 | Tuesday | | 2031 | April 16 | Wednesday | | 2032 | April 16 | Friday | | 2033 | April 16 | Saturday | | 2034 | April 16 | Sunday | | 2035 | April 16 | Monday |

Why Does the U.S. Celebrate Orchids on April 16?

The Youngs' passion for orchids is no surprise—after all, they met as volunteers on a Mexican orchid farm. Their shared love for the flowers blossomed into marriage and, later, the birth of a daughter they named **Orchid**. Tragically, baby Orchid passed away on **April 16, 2014**, the day she was born. To honor her memory, Mike and Faith declared the date **National Orchid Day**. (Their story echoes the spirit of **Worldwide Candle Lighting**, held the second Sunday in December—a day of remembrance for lost children.) Funding for the initiative came swiftly: a **Kickstarter campaign** and sales of their homemade honey covered the costs in just 24 hours. This context explains why **National Orchid Day** doesn't quite fit among purely botanical observances like **International Plant Appreciation Day**. It's more than a celebration of flora—it's a tribute to their daughter and a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who supported their cause, helping orchids (and their memory) gain a little more appreciation. A personal note of gratitude to my parents, who shared their orchid photos for this piece. Rest in peace, little Orchid.