The International Unicorn Day falls on April 9th every year, providing us with an opportunity to celebrate the horned mythical creature. In the past, unicorns were believed to inhabit exotic locations and were considered wild and dangerous animals that could only be tamed by a pure-hearted maiden. Today, the unicorn serves as a symbol of love, goodness, fantasy, and enchanting magic. They also feature in many fantasy movies or animated films. Children and adults alike are fascinated by unicorns, as evidenced by the plethora of books and games featuring these majestic creatures!
There’s an old European tradition known as the Emblem: a personal symbol and a mysterious motto that encapsulates one’s philosophy of life. The regent of Lorenzburg, Prince Frei, has chosen the unicorn along with the Latin words Fortasse Ultra Montem – “Perhaps beyond the mountain” as one of his personal emblems. The motto suggests that even though modern humans are almost certain that such things as magic and unicorns don’t exist, one can never be entirely sure. Perhaps real living unicorns roam just around the corner or beyond the nearest mountaintop? It certainly doesn’t hurt to keep an open mind!
Some suggestions on how to celebrate Unicorn Day:
- Try making some colorful pancakes or muffins. Decorate them with edible glitter or sprinkles.
- Bake unicorn-shaped cookies and share them with someone you care about!
- Watch a movie featuring unicorns.
- Draw unicorns or write a short story about one. Share it with someone you care about.
- Invent a completely new tradition!
The unicorn of the Sea
Well actually, there IS a kind of unicorn that still roams freely in the wild. The narwhal is often referred to as the “unicorn of the sea.” They are beautiful and peculiar creatures with a long spiraled tooth or tusk protruding from the front of their heads. There are approximately 80,000 narwhals remaining, and a single individual can weigh up to two tons and reach a length of 5.5 meters.
In the past, narwhals were hunted for their tusks, which were sold as unicorn horns. Today, the narwhal is an endangered species.
Feel free to read more about the narwhal on its Wikipedia page.