Fun Holiday – Frog Jumping Day

According to several sources, the unofficial holiday celebrates a short story named Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog by Mark Twain. In the story, a compulsive better named Jim Smiley trains a frog to jump and bets with a man that his frog can jump higher than any other frog in the town. The man dupes Jim Smiley and wins the bet. It is, however, unclear why the inventor of this day chose May 13 as the date for this “hoppy” holiday.

Frogs have great jumping capabilities and are the best jumpers among all vertebrates given their size.

How to Celebrate?

• Jump around like a frog. Make sure you do not do this in a heavily crowded or trafficked area.
• Go see frogs jump at your local aquarium or pond. And learn more about frogs and their habitats.
• Read Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog and other works by Mark Twain.

Did You Know…

…that a group of frogs is called an army?