World Sauntering Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated in mid-June. Various sources indicate two dates for its celebration: June 15 or 19. The second date is more common. This is an unusual holiday, relevant for people living in modern metropolis, for whom external reality sets a very fast pace of life. The holiday aims to encourage people to slow down and enjoy life, rather than blindly rushing through it. Sometimes this holiday is called ‘a day of recreation on the landscape.’

It is believed that World Sauntering Day was conceived in 1979 by William T. Rabe (1921-1992). At that time, jogging was rapidly gaining popularity, and Rabe feared that people would forget how to relax and appreciate the world around them while running. This is how the idea of World Sauntering Day emerged. Sauntering is a slow stroll, preferably in a cheerful mood. Many naturalist writers throughout history, including Henry David Thoreau and John Burroughs, spoke about the importance of taking one's time. Slow walking (sauntering) is not the same as walking, for example, to the place where one works. It implies that a person temporarily takes the weight of the world off his shoulders and walks without stress or tension, creating an opportunity for himself to focus on the pure joy of the activity. This is the complete antithesis to jogging, an activity which, according to the creators of the Sauntering Day, deprives us of the opportunity to joyfully experience the world around us.

The pace of life for all of us is fast. Sometimes it seems that there is simply no time to stop or slow down. We set goals for ourselves and strive to achieve them, then achieve them and set new ones. This leads to stress and chronic fatigue, which are familiar to many of us. A day of leisurely walking is a great reason to take a short break from the rat race. After all, happiness lies, among other things, in the little things that surround us. The purpose of today's holiday is to remind everyone that life is beautiful and that we need to allow ourselves to relax sometimes and just walk without a destination, enjoying the scent of flowers.

A walk in the park or forest, or a trip to the countryside, is one of the most effective ways to combat stress. It was precisely the desire to emphasise the importance and accessibility of this simple way to distract oneself, at least for a short time, from problems and the hustle and bustle of everyday life that prompted the initiators and activists to celebrate World Sauntering Day every year. June was chosen for a reason – it is the beginning of summer, when warm and sunny weather prevails, which is conducive to walking in the fresh air. Supporters of the Sauntering Day urge us not only in mid-June, but throughout the year, to go out to nature and spend more time outdoors.

Use this day to relax and pause for a moment. You will feel refreshed and notice things you would not otherwise notice – birds singing, the beauty of flowers, or the love of your life passing you by on the street.

On the cover: Snuffbox with mosaic composition. Switzerland – snuffbox; Italy – micro-mosaic, Geneva – snuffbox; Rome – micro-mosaic. 1836; mosaic – 1835. Bautte&Co.

Below are items stored in the museum Collection exposition, which depict leisurely promenading people:
Bonbonniere with miniatures. France, Paris. 1784-1785. Jacques Varrier;
Musical automaton picture. Germany. Circa 1850;
Musical picture hour striking wall clock. France. Circa 1839.

More items featuring landscapes and people sauntering around are in the collection sections "Snuffboxes and Cigarette Cases", "Mechanical Birds and Singing Bird Boxes", "Musical Boxes", "Clocks and Objects with Movement", "Paintings and Miniatures", "Photos".