By ADIA REYNOLDS
Tiger Media Network
Each year on January 29, citizens across Kansas celebrate Kansas Day, a celebration of Kansas’ induction into the United States in 1861. On this day, Kansas became the 34th state in the USA. The holiday itself was not established until 1877, when Paola schoolchildren were the first to boast their Kansas pride, which garnered popularity across the community. This school day exercise led to Kansas Day being celebrated all across the state. However, every year since the people of Kansas have held this day as a form of historical remembrance.
Elio Dixon-Phillips, an English major at Fort Hays State University, recalls their own elementary experiences surrounding Kansas Day.
“Usually we would celebrate at school, where we would make sunflower cakes,” Dixon-Phillips said.
Kansas Day is known for encouraging people to return to tradition, if only for one day a year. Celebratory events include preparing pioneer-inspired meals and singing “Home on the Range,” which was adopted as the state song in 1947.
“A student of mine emailed me today to inform me that she listened to ‘Home on the Range’ in celebration, and discovered lyrics she had never heard before,” said FHSU Associate Professor of History, Paul Nienkamp.
It is also common practice for children to be taken on appropriately themed field trips. These usually involve visits to local Kansas history museums or even government buildings. Gov. Laura Kelly is anticipated to make a statement, as is Kansas Day tradition.
Kansas Day can hold a thousand meanings and varying significance, depending on who you ask. Locally, Hays is choosing to celebrate Kansan heritage in a way that is uniquely spirited. Defiance Brewing Co. is hosting the Explore Kansas Beer event where participants can visit eight locations over the course of five days.
In the same vein of spirits, the Flint Hills Paranormal Society is using the holiday to share ghost stories from within the Kansas borders. This free event takes place in Emporia from 6:30-7:30 pm. In addition, the Lee Richardson Zoo will use Kansas Day to discuss the state’s efforts toward animal and nature conservation.