A little reason to celebrate
Pack Rat Day
Fun ยท May 17
Pack Rat Day looks at the habit of keeping things, from rubber bands and jars to old letters, and at the animal that gave the habit its name.
Pack Rat Day falls on Monday, May 17, 2027. That is 202 days away.
A pack rat is someone who keeps things. The twist ties, the spare buttons, the jar of keys that open nothing anyone can name. The phrase comes from a real animal, the woodrat of North America, which gathers sticks, bones and shiny objects into its nest.
The human version is usually gentler than its reputation. Most collections start with a reasonable thought: this might be useful someday. Sometimes it is. The person with a drawer of mismatched screws is often the one who can fix the wobbly chair.
Keeping things also holds memory. A ticket stub, a birthday card, a child's drawing folded into quarters. These objects take up little room and carry a lot. Many people mark the day by opening one box or one drawer and simply looking through it, deciding what stays, what goes, and what deserves a better spot on a shelf.
Others lean the other way and sort, donate or pass along things that someone else could use. Both approaches fit. The point is to know what you have and why.
The woodrat, for its part, has been known to drop one item when it finds something it likes better, which is why it is also called a trade rat.
Ways to celebrate
- Open one drawer or box and look through what you have kept.
- Pass along something useful to a friend or neighbor.
- Share the story behind one object you have never thrown away.
- Find a better spot to display a keepsake you love.
- Donate items in good condition to a local thrift shop.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, May 17 |
| 2027 | Monday, May 17 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, May 17 |
| 2029 | Thursday, May 17 |
| 2030 | Friday, May 17 |
Also on May 17
- National Walnut Day
- National Cherry Cobbler Day
- National Pinot Grigio Day
- National Mushroom Hunting Day
Categories: Fun days