May17 Fun Holiday – Pack Rat Day

Pack Rat Day is celebrated every year on May 17. The unofficial holiday encourages people to do some late spring-cleaning and to make space for newer, more useful things in their lives.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to collect useless things? Get rid of things that you don't need anymore and de-clutter your house, workspace and your life on Pack Rat Day.

Collector of Useless Objects

Pack rat is the term used to describe a person who tends to collect objects - useful and useless - and does not easily get rid of them. While many of us can be pack rats in certain areas of our lives, being a hoarder can be a serious issue. In many people, the pack rat behavior can create major mental and physical health issues.

Distracted Woodrats

The term pack rat comes from the rodent of the same name. Also called woodrats, these rodents are known to be nesters. They collect anything they can find to make their nests. They are known to get distracted by shiny new things - if they see something they like, they will drop what they are currently holding to get the shiny new item for their nest!

How to Celebrate?

Collecting is not always a bad thing. Whether it is baseball cards, vintage chocolate wrappers or old cars, Pack Rat Day is a reminder that there is a fine line between collecting and hoarding and that sometimes it is ok to get rid of old things to make way for newer things. Here are some ways to observe this holiday:

• Take the day off to do some organizing. Throw away or donate anything you haven't used for over 6 months.
• If you know of someone who is a hoarder, get them some help. Hoarding can sometimes become a problem that can have a negative effect on a person's life.
• Read more about actual pack rats, rodents who pick up shiny objects and leave pebbles and nuts in their place.

Did You Know…

...that fossilized pack rat middens are a rich source of information about the history of the environment in the area? Middens are debris piles created by the materials collected by the rodents and preserved by their urine. The oldest middens found were about 50,000 years old.

Pack Rat Day Observances

Fun Holiday: Pack Rat Day Observances
Year	Weekday	Date	Name
2024	Fri	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2025	Sat	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2026	Sun	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2027	Mon	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2028	Wed	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2029	Thu	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2030	Fri	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2031	Sat	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2032	Mon	17 May	Pack Rat Day
2033	Tue	17 May	Pack Rat Day

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