National Pack Rat Day

National Pack Rat Day is an American holiday dedicated to hoarding. It is a bad trait – people just feel sorry to part with already useless and unnecessary things. As a result, the house/shed/garage becomes a mess and a jumble of different items. It is celebrated annually on May 17.

History

The story of National Pack Rat Day is devoid of details. Perhaps it was created by psychologists or just a group of people who were tired of seeing the mess created by a lot of unnecessary things.

Hoarding is not just a human characteristic. Difficulty with getting rid of unnecessary things can be a sign of withdrawal, fear of change, anxiety, etc. Experts in the field of psychology and psychotherapy, say that such a feature may be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Its essence is the presence of obsessive thoughts and desires from which a person cannot give up.

Interesting facts

• The Russian writer N.V. Gogol’s “Dead Souls” describes a case of hoarding. The character “Plyushkin” could not part with his belongings, money and even food, as a result of which everything was accumulated in his basement.
• A link has been established between hoarding and obesity. People who are afraid to part with their old things are more likely to be overweight.
• Ignoring the problem of hoarding can lead to depression, a person will live in constant stress. This is the opinion of psychotherapists.

How to celebrate

Devote this day to a general cleaning and inventory of things in the shed or garage. If you feel sorry for throwing away old things, sell them on the secondary market, unwanted clothing in good condition can be given to shelters or sold through second hand.

Tell people about the holiday on social media. Ask users if they have a hoarding habit.

When is National Pack Rat Day celebrated in 2024?

National Pack Rat Day is observed on May 17 each year.

Observations