This holiday is celebrated on 2 dates: March 11th and September 26th.
Why two dates?
John Chapman was born on September 26, 1774. It is believed he died on March 11, 1845 but since this date was not formally recorded, the date is disputed.
What does this holiday celebrate?
Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman (September 26, 1774 - February 18, 1845), was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He became an American legend while still alive, largely because of his kind and generous ways, his great leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance of apples.
So on this special day remember to celebrate it by serving your family a fantastic apple dish in honor of this legendary man and his apple trees.
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Origin of this Holiday
Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. We did however find that this holiday has been celebrated for many years. There is plenty of documentation to support claims for Johnny Appleseed Day on March 11th and on September 26th but we could not find the actual origin.
This holiday is referred to as a "National" day. However, we did not find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day. Even though we didn't, this is still a holiday that is publicized to celebrate.
So have fun with it and celebrate it!
We found recognition about this holiday from:
Calendar sites and personal Internet sites that blog and share information about this holiday. School websites also reference this holiday and many classrooms celebrate this holiday by having a day of learning in honor of the life of Johnny Appleseeds. Learning about apples is also a part of holidays.
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How is this holiday celebrated?
The Johnny Appleseed Festival is a name given to any number of festivals held in the United States in honor of John Chapman usually in September or October. (the apple season)
The Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, is a festival held in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The festival traditionally features food, crafts, and historical demonstrations commemorating the times of John Chapman. It is always held in the third full weekend of September, at Johnny Appleseed Park. Festival hours are always 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on the Saturday of the festival, and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday.
Another such festival is the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Sheffield, PA. This festival is sponsored by the Rotary and Lions Clubs of Sheffield, Pennsylvania. This festival features old fashioned games, lumberjack and lumberjill competitions, chainsaw carving, pie baking and chili cook-off competitions, food antique and craft vendors, old fashioned horse pulls, an Antique Appraisal, an Antique Engine Display, Fireworks, etc.
Activities for the day will include music, entertainment, pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin train, pumpkin bowling, apple pie baking contest, apple pie eating contest, clowns, face painting, story telling, temporary tattoos, wagon rides, Farmer's Market and so much more!
For more information, such as dates and activities,on these festivals click on the appropriate external links.
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Johnny Appleseed Best Remembered
Johnny Appleseed is best remembered in American popular culture by his traveling song or Swedenborgian hymn ("The Lord is good to me...") which is today sung before meals in some American households.
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The Image
The popular image of Johnny Appleseed had him spreading apple seeds randomly, everywhere he went. In fact, he planted nurseries rather than orchards, built fences around them to kill them from livestock, left the nurseries in the care of a neighbor who sold trees on shares, and returned every year or two to tend the nursery. Many of these nurseries were located in the Mohican area of north-central Ohio. This area included the towns of Mansfield, Lucas, Perrysville, and Loudonville.
Appleseed's managers were asked to sell trees on credit, if at all possible, but he would accept corn meal, cash or used clothing in barter. The notes did not specify an exact maturity date—that date might not be convenient—and if it did not get paid on time, or even get paid at all, Johnny Appleseed did not press for payment. Appleseed was hardly alone in this pattern of doing business, but he was unusual in remaining a wanderer his entire life.
"Here's your primitive Christian!" Illustration from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1871
He obtained the apple seeds for free; cider mills wanted more apple trees planted since it would eventually bring them more business. Johnny Appleseed dressed in the worst of the used clothing he received, giving away the better clothing in barter. He wore no shoes, even in the snowy winter. There was always someone in need he could help out, for he did not have a house to maintain. When he heard a horse was to be put down, he had to buy the horse, buy a few grassy acres nearby, and turn the horse out to recover. If it did, he would give the horse to someone needy, exacting a promise to treat the horse humanely.
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Research also:
American folklore /
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