National Alpaca Day is a holiday observed annually on the 1st of August. It celebrates the species of South American camelid that is often confused with llamas but is noticeably smaller than llamas. Their scientific name is Vicugna pacos, and they have fur that is prized for being strong, water-resistant, and warm.

On this holiday, people often participate in events that allow them to experience alpacas up close, tour alpaca farms, and learn more about these majestic animals. This is a holiday that many people find a lot of fun to celebrate.

The History of National Alpaca Day

Alpacas have been domesticated for over 9,000 years and have been extremely important to the people of the Andes over the centuries. They were bred for the fiber they produced—a fiber that was known as “The Fiber of the Gods.” They were also important for religious purposes, as well as for their meat.

Unfortunately, at this time, we’re unsure when National Alpaca Day was created. We believe that it has been around for quite some time now but have been unable to pinpoint the exact date of its origin. This is complicated by the fact that there are other Alpaca Days observed around the world at different times of the year.

Some Important Facts About Alpacas

Now we’re at the point in this holiday article where we take a few moments to research and then list some facts about the subject of the holiday. So we took to the Internet and found out all that we could about alpacas. The following list of facts is the fruit of our labor. We hope that they provide our readers with the enjoyment they deserve.

• The Incas placed more value on alpaca fiber than they did on gold.
• Alpacas are increasingly being used as therapy animals due to their intuitive and sensitive nature.
• Alpaca fur is very much like wool, except that it’s warmer and doesn’t itch the wearer.
• Alpaca fur is water and flame resistant.
• Alpacas come in almost two dozen different colors.
• Alpacas live, on average, between 15 and 20 years.
• The average alpaca weighs between 100 and 200 pounds.

Observing National Alpaca Day

Heading to an alpaca farm or learning more about alpacas are two ways to observe this holiday. It’s also a day for people to buy something made out of alpaca wool or even try their hand at knitting with it. We also encourage people who are interested in this holiday to spread the word about it using the hashtag #NationalAlpacaDay on social media.