HOORAY FOR WORLD OLIVE TREE DAY!
At Kardamas, we celebrate the beauty and purity of the Olive Tree every day! But on World Olive Tree Day, November 26th of every year, we’re given yet another reason to join in rejoicing in its importance in Greek history.
The purpose of World Olive Tree Day is to raise awareness of the olive tree and its significance against global warming, as well as, a means of protecting our cultural heritage and natural landscape.
Around 800 million olive trees are cultivated worldwide for commercial purposes and the process of extracting olive oil from their fruits has its own impact on carbon emission. However, olive trees are considered environmentally sustainable, because the CO2 emitted during this process is far less than what is absorbed by them out in the atmosphere. Olive tree are environmentally friendly also because it prevents desertification and soil erosion.
So on World Olive Tree Day, it honors how these trees have shaped our landscapes and culture. Its fruit has fed and raised generations of Greek people throughout the years. So, why not give it some love and celebrate World Olive Tree Day with us!
Importance of World Olive Tree Day
World Olive Tree Day was established by UNESCO in 2019.
Cultivating an olive tree requires patience. It is ready to be harvested between 7-15 years and takes nearly 30-60 years to reach its full maturity.
An average olive tree can live between 150-600 years, while some ancient trees have been found to around 3,000 -5,000 years old!
The olive tree was first cultivated in the Mediterranean area by the Ancient Greeks, having been brought from the Middle East and North Africa.
The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle comes from our dietary choices. The olive tree gives us olive oil and olives, staples of the Mediterranean Diet, known as the healthiest diet in the world. After all, the olive tree is a symbol of growth, rebirth, longevity, peace and friendship.
In Ancient Greece, the sacred olive trees were protected by law and the punishment was death. These were the “Mories”, the olive trees which were born from the very first tree, which according to Greek mythology, was planted by goddess Athena in Acropolis.
Ways to Celebrate World Olive Tree Day
Eat More Greek Olives & Olive Oil
Celebrate World Olive Tree Day by eating more healthily and consume more Greek olives and/or olive oil. There are countless Mediterranean recipes. So start eating healthier today!
Visit an Olive Orchard or Olive Oil Mill
Tour an olive orchard or olive oil mill. It’s a fun activity to learn about their cultivation and production. See what the process is and really get to know where your product is coming from.
Support Olive Oil Farmers
Get your gourmet Greek goods from the source! Buy high quality extra virgin olive oils and olives from Farmers’ Markets near your area. They may have have olive oil tastings or samples to try! Go show your support for our producers’ hard work.
Make a Gift
As a symbol of peace and friendship, there’s no better gift for your friends than a pure product that comes from the olive tree itself! Be it a bottle of extra virgin olive oil or a jar of Greek olives, anyone would enjoy the gift of authenticity.
DIY Beauty Treatments
Celebrate World Olive Tree Day by offering your skin and hair the gift they so much deserve. Apart from its use in cooking and baking, the olive oil has several other purposes. From the ancient years, olive oil has been used on skin and hair and is still used up to this day, with astonishing results. Incorporate some of our face beauty recipes or hair treatments in your daily or weekly routine and see for yourself!
On November 26th, celebrate World Olive Tree Day with us, to honor the tree that’s the foundation of the Greeks!