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SunMay 5

Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day – May 5, 2024

Hug A Shed And Take A Selfie Day is held annually every May 5. It’s a day to sing praises for one of the most versatile buildings in the world — the shed. Usually located in the backyard or garden, these unassuming single-story roofed structures can serve a myriad of uses. Boat sheds, car sheds, tool sheds, and wood sheds are only some of the many ways people have used their sheds for. Large or small, old or new, these useful little buildings are one of the most common structures around the globe.

History of Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day

Our early ancestors built their homes and sheds from whatever local materials were available in their area. Egyptians built underground silos lined with reeds to store grain. Europeans used mammoth skins and tusks for shelters. Eskimos built igloos from blocks of ice and snow. Cave dwellers used smaller alcoves within caves for storage space. The Anasazi people lived around 1 A.D. to 1300 A.D. in the American Southwest.

They occupied natural and man-made caves made from soft volcanic rock and also made use of storage alcoves within them. As free-standing shelters emerged, they extended their cave homes by constructing living, storage, and religious spaces from rock and clay. In Southern Italy, excavators found remains of an ancient shed’s collapsed roof on a collection of lumber used to make furniture. The pieces were identified as maple, olive, willow, and poplar wood. Maple wood was used in Roman times in the making of fine furniture, indicating that the storage shed was part of a workshop that made furniture for rich clientele.

Just like their Roman counterparts, wealthy English aristocrats were also able to afford to build extra structures aside from their main house. During the 17th century, those who had made the Grand Tour of the continent wanted to recreate the ancient landmarks and ruins they saw right in their very backyards. Most were as extravagant as their own homes, but aside from looking fabulous, they were useless. That’s possibly why these opulent buildings were called ‘English Follies.’

Today, you don’t have to be rich to own a shed. You just need to have space in your yard for one. Large or small, old or new, sheds are a convenient space to hide clutter, store items, or even become a space to retreat to.

Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day timeline

330 — 280 B.C.
The Ancient Shed Blueprint

Evidence of old bronze tablets with detailed instructions on how to build ‘a shed for storing straw’ is found in Greece.

1786
The World’s Most Expensive Shed

A farmer builds the ‘Walig Hut’ for cows with a breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps, now considered to be the most expensive shed in the world, estimated to cost over a million U.S. dollars.

2002
Men and Sheds Published

Gordon Thorburn writes about interesting shed owners in the U.K.

September 27, 2020
The World’s Fastest Garden Shed

Englishman Kevin Nicks’s motorized garden shed breaks the world land speed record for the third time since 2015, clocking in at 106.123 mph.

Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day FAQs

Where did the word shed originate from?

It possibly comes from the word ‘shade.’ Another theory is that it comes from the Middle English word ‘schudde,’ which meant ‘shed’ or ‘hut.’

Do you really need a shed?

A shed is a convenient way to store items like gardening tools and other clutter that may be strewn about, giving your yard a neater appearance.

Which is cheaper: buying or building a shed?

It’s cheaper to build your own shed, though it’s much more labor-intensive and generally takes longer.

Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day Activities

  1. Strike a pose

    Organize your own photoshoot. Dress up and take photos by your trusty old shed.

  2. Repair the shed

    Show some love to your outdoor shed by cleaning it out. Go ahead and organize items, put on a fresh coat of paint, or make a few repairs.

  3. Use its contents

    Make use of whatever is inside your shed. Take the lawnmower out for a spin, plant a new rose bush or set up the inflatable pool.

5 Things You Shouldn’t Store In Sheds

  1. Canned food

    Corrosion, rust, and fluctuating temperatures can affect the contents of canned food, making it unfit for consumption.

  2. Electronics

    Screens of electronic devices or appliances will go bad when exposed to radical temperatures, aside from rust destroying the internal wiring.

  3. Photos

    High temperatures, as well as humidity, can cause photos to stick together and that’s not something you want happening to your memories.

  4. Important documents

    Unless you want your important papers covered in mold, don’t keep them in a shed.

  5. Clothing and bedding

    Insects can ruin your clothes and they may smell musty after prolonged storage.

Why We Love Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day

  1. Sheds are useful

    Probably no other structure has served a multitude of uses as the simple shed. We need to celebrate this dependable structure.

  2. Sheds are given importance

    The lowly shack that houses things we don’t want lying around is given a well-deserved day of recognition. No more taking it for granted as we have always done.

  3. Sheds increase a property’s value

    Property buyers usually include storage as part of their checklist. Having a shed on your property can be an advantage.

Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day dates

YearDateDay
2024May 5Sunday
2025May 5Monday
2026May 5Tuesday
2027May 5Wednesday
2028May 5Friday

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