National Frog Jumping Day (May 13)
May 13 has one job, and that’s celebrating the completely wonderful tradition of watching frogs jump as far as they possibly can.
National Frog Jumping Day traces back to one of Mark Twain’s most beloved stories, and the fact that it turned into a real, still-running annual event says a lot about how much Americans enjoy a good frog competition.
It’s one of those holidays that sounds silly until you actually look into it, and then it’s just genuinely fun.
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When is the Holiday?
Every year on May 13.
Who Invented It?
No official founder on record. The holiday grew out of the real-life frog jumping contests that communities started holding after Mark Twain’s 1865 story took off. Once people started actually staging the contests, the date stuck around and eventually became its own thing.
The History of the Holiday
Twain published “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” in 1865 and it was the story that first put his name on the map. It’s a short, funny tale set in a California mining town, built around a bet on a frog jumping contest.
People loved it.
Communities in California started holding real versions of the contest, and in 1928 the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee held its first official event. It’s still running today, which makes it one of the longest-running events inspired by a piece of American literature.
Top 5 Facts About the Holiday
- It was Twain’s career-launching story. Before this, he was a relatively unknown writer. The frog story changed that almost overnight and opened the door to everything that followed.
- The world record jump is over 21 feet. It’s held by a frog called Rosie the Ribeter, and that record has stood for decades. Competitive frog jumping is more serious than most people expect.
- The Calaveras Jubilee draws thousands of people every year. The whole town of Angels Camp gets involved. Frog statues, themed storefronts, the works. It’s a proper event, not just a local curiosity.
- Frog welfare is built into the competition rules. There are time limits, temperature guidelines, and handling rules in place to make sure the frogs are looked after. Nobody is out here being careless with the competitors.
- You can read the original story for free. It’s available on Project Gutenberg and takes about ten minutes to read. Worth doing before or with kids on this day, it holds up surprisingly well.
Coloring Page
If you’re celebrating with kids, print off the free frog coloring page below before the day kicks off. It’s a nice quiet activity to have on hand while you’re prepping food or setting up a backyard contest, and it doubles as a simple way to talk about frogs and what makes them interesting.
Activities to Celebrate
The most obvious thing to do is hold a jumping contest of some kind. If you have kids, toy frogs work perfectly well and nobody has to handle a real one. Set up a starting line, measure the jumps, make it competitive. It takes about five minutes to set up and kids are usually into it longer than you’d expect.
Reading the Twain story is genuinely worth doing, especially with older kids. It’s short, it’s funny, and it’s the whole reason this day exists. Project Gutenberg has it free online. Pair it with one of the frog recipes below and you have a pretty solid themed afternoon without a lot of effort.
For a craft option, the frog toilet paper roll and paper cup projects are both easy to pull off with minimal supplies. Good for younger kids who need something hands on while the older ones are reading or competing.
Related Recipes for the Holiday
- Frog Pond Cookie Cups – chocolate cookie cups filled with blue pudding and topped with gummy frogs. Easy to make with kids and they look great on a table.
- Frog in the Pond – a classic Australian party treat using green jelly and a chocolate frog. Simple, nostalgic, and always popular with young kids.
- Air Fryer Frog Legs – for the adventurous eaters. Crispy, lighter than the fried version, and a genuinely good way to lean into the theme literally.
- Frog on a Log in a Bog – French toast sticks as the log, a green apple frog on top, syrup as the bog. A creative breakfast that kids can help put together and actually want to eat.
Links to Resources
- Life Cycle of a Frog Worksheet – walks kids through every stage from egg to adult. Good for reinforcing what they’re learning in science.
- Parts of a Frog Worksheet – a labeling activity for early elementary kids covering the basic anatomy.
- Frog Toilet Paper Craft – minimal supplies, easy instructions, good for preschool age and up.
- How to Draw a Frog Step-by-Step – a step-by-step guide that works for a range of ages and builds drawing confidence without needing much adult help.
- The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County – the original Twain story, free on Project Gutenberg. Start here if you haven’t read it.
Related Holidays
Other lighthearted literary-inspired holidays include:
- National Limerick Day (May 12) – falls the day before, and limericks and Twain feel like a natural pairing.
- World Storytelling Day (March 20) – a good lead-in if you want to read the Twain story earlier in the year.
- Read a Book Day (September 6) – an easy excuse to revisit this one later in the year if you missed it in May.
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