If you think of the ultimate in relaxing experiences that come pretty much free of charge, then one of the first things that come to mind is a long, hot soak in the bath. Well, if you needed a reason to draw up the most amazing and luxurious bath, then International Bath Day is quite possibly it.
While it may sound like utter madness, it is, in fact, an incredibly popular day and an excuse for every man, woman, and child to enjoy the most relaxing and indulgent of soaks.
We should probably also start by saying that International Bath Day isn’t the only day of the year you should choose to have a bath, let’s face it if this were the case public transport would be way more disturbing on summer days.
In fact, days like this are probably not about bathing at all; International Bath Day is a way of celebrating our humanity, it’s about recognizing who we are and how far we have truly come. While for some, a bath is just a way to clean some difficult to reach areas; for others, it’s an escape.
There are people out there that work 14 hour days and just need to unwind away from the world, and at the opposite end of the spectrum, there are people who find inspiration while enjoying the quiet and occasional fizz of bubbles.
In truth, days like International Bath Day are to you what you make of them; you should look to do something that makes you feel happiest to be alive, something that is just for you and nobody else.
History of International Bath Day
Legend has it that on June 14th, Greek mathematician, scientist, and scholar, Archimedes, discovered while taking a bath that an object’s volume could be accurately measured by being submerged in water! Unable to contain his excitement over this discovery, Archimedes leaped out of the bathtub and yelled, “Eureka, Eureka!” as he ran through the streets of Syracuse, Greece. Since the exact date of Archimedes’ birth was unknown, the day chosen to commemorate is the day that is believed he kept out of the bathtub….June 14th.
How was this date determined? The ancient Greek legend says that it was exactly one week before the beginning of summer…the calendar in those days was astronomical, and seasons were determined due to the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis in relation to its orbit around the sun. Summer began (then and today) on June 21st, so a week before is June 14th, and this was the date set.
We would like to recognize this day because we believe that bath time is the IDEAL time for learning and discovery for children. Bath toys can teach children the basic properties of physics such as empty/full, float/sink, heavy/light, and cause and effect all while having FUN in the tub!
As we know, the world has evolved constantly, and this is also just as true for the way we bathe. While this may sound insane, it really isn’t. When it comes to bathing, if we look back only 100 years, the whole concept of bathing in some countries was not a relaxing one at all; in fact, it was downright uncomfortable.
In the 19th century England, a bath in many cases was a large cold metal container placed in front of a fireplace, and in some countries, this is still the case believe it or not.
Now when we look at bath time, it’s something to look forward to, drawing a nice bubble bath doesn’t end with the simple things. There are now bathtubs with jets for a hot tub like experience, and the 21st century has really seen a rise in the sales of essential oils for those looking for a little something extra from their bath.
Taking all of this into account, it seems that over the next 20 years, things are going to advance even more, and with the creation of temperature regulation devices for bathtubs, you will never be pained with a cold bath ever again.
So, no matter what your ideal bath maybe, you should remember that the evolution of the bathtub has come a long way, so you should embrace the power of the bath and really treat yourself this International Bath Day.
How to celebrate International Bath Day
Ok, so when it comes to celebrating International Bath Day, we are pretty sure that you get the gist of things, but, if you don’t, then some ideas will follow for somebody of every age.
If you are a fan of retro, why not find the most boring bath bomb you can get your hands on, dash in some bubbles and get that bath to the perfect temperature.
Once at a temperature that won’t cook a lobster, throw on some Barry Manilow and let your mind take you to your own personal Nirvana.
Of course, if this isn’t for you, you could just run the perfect bath for you, place in some earplugs, lock the bathroom door and have some totally undisturbed time that’s just for you.
When it comes to International Bath Day, it matters not whether you are a man or woman, whether you work or don’t work, this is the one day of the year where you should take an hour out of your schedule and escape from the world.
Sometimes we all need to spend some time alone so we can become one with the universe once more. If this isn’t the case, perhaps you’re just a single parent who would like to use the bathroom in peace just once. Whoever you are, International Bath Day is more than a celebration; it’s also an excuse.
