Coastin Carl
👤 National BOBBLEHEAD Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
We celebrate National BOBBLEHEAD Day on the 7th Day in January. Equally as relevant to the day is the date of February 1, 2019. This is the day the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors. Native Milwaukee pals Brad Novak and Phil Sklar started their collection in 2003 with a single bobblehead! Now there are over 7000 on display.
Bobbleheads Seen Throughout TIME
Bobblehead dolls have been seen as early as the 1760s. Johann Zoffany painted Queen Charlotte in 1765. She’s sitting in her dressing room at Buckingham Palace. Behind her are Chinese nodding dolls perhaps … as gifts.
The Prince of Wales, George IV, had an affinity for Chinese decor and seemed to have a deep appreciation for these dolls. At the time of his place of power, these dolls were being imported from China to England and the Americas. They’re also called nodders, which originated from what we know in history from temple nodders – made from the likeness of Buddha and other religious figures. The prince decorated his rooms in the Carlton House with Chinese drawings and later would go on to spend twenty-five years at Brighton Palace lavishly decorating the place with Chinese scenery, furnishings, and these Asian nodders. This took place between the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Nikolai Gogol wrote a short story in 1842 about its main character named Akaky who had a neck like that “of plaster cats which wag their heads”. Bobbleheads were also called wobblers.
Germany during the early 1900s made bobblehead dolls in the form of various animals. They were around 6-8 inches tall which was smaller than some of the earlier nodder dolls from the 1700s.
In the 1960s bobblehead dolls became a part of pop culture. Baseball and other sports teams would later create many bobbleheads of team players. Papier-mâché and ceramic were used to make Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, Roger Marris, and Willie Mays into Bobblehead dolls. Also, the Beatles had bobblehead dolls made after them. However, the material that bobblehead makers used during this time would chip and crack which led to a decline in the 1970s.
Bobbleheads See A RESURGENCE
The bobbleheads, temple nodders, wobblers, and Chinese nodding dolls almost became a relic from history.
In 1999, which was their last season at Candlestick Park, during the stadium’s 40th anniversary the San Francisco Giants gave a commemorative Willie Mays bobblehead to the first 20,000 visitors on May 9th. The following year eight more teams would offer up bobblehead souvenirs. Sporting events offering bobblehead dolls helped the dolls grow in popularity. They would later become such a success that mini bobbleheads, bobblehead coin banks, and even bobblehead air fresheners arrived.
🤪 HOW to Celebrate & Observe National BOBBLEHEAD Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.
Here are some activities that you can do on National BOBBLEHEAD Day!
💙 POST a pic
Post your favorite bobblehead on social media and show off your bobblehead doll favorites.
💙 LEARN about the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum
Watch this video above or better yet visit the place in Wisconsin. Become a member of their museum to show your support.
💙 BECOME a ventriloquist
Give yourself private shows. Maybe you’ll collect a smaller Conan O’Brien or find out your grandma’s favorite Golden Girl was Betty White’s portrayal of Rose Nyland. Your kid might be into Ironman. If you cook as a home chef – Gordon Ramsay might be up your alley. Flip their head and start talkin’: “You donut! It’s raw! and I’ve eaten it!”
💙 START a collection
Collect your favorite bobbleheads across the cosmos, or just create your own bobblehead doll. It could be yourself, a loved one, or your own pet. We’ve seen companies out of China offering to make your very own custom bobblehead at the annual IAAPA tradeshow!
💙 RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #NationalBobbleheadDay, #BobbleHeadDay, #Collectibles, #Dolls, #SpecialInterestHolidays, #JanuaryHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ National BOBBLEHEAD Day.
LEARN more about how BOBBLEHEADS are made
MEET THE BOBBLEHEAD GUY
NINE Fun Facts you never knew about National BOBBLEHEAD Day
- Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Roger Maris, and Mickey Mantle were some of the first non-mascot bobbleheads created. Willie Mays was also made with a gold-painted base which eventually flaked off and was deemed inferior.
- Bobbleheads of sports heroes date as far back as the roaring 1920s.
- An insurance company created a 15-foot-tall gigantic bobblehead of their Saint Bernard mascot for a tradeshow in 2016. His head would nod when you yanked the giant leash attached to his neck.
- Conan O’Brien unveiled a huge bobblehead of himself in Chicago during a week-long taping of his show measuring around 17 feet tall and weighing over 2000 lbs in 2012.
- The largest bobblehead is 16 feet, 6.73 inches high. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet made a larger version of its smaller mustached Ollie outside its store in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA in 2022. It took four months and over 10 gallons of paint to build the massive 600-pound statuette. The previous Guinness Book of World Records holder was a replica of famed game show host Chuck Woolery which measured in at 11 feet. If only JD Roberto knew someone who could pull some strings …
- Some of the oldest remaining bobbleheads around surfaced in 2010 when the pair of early 19th-century Chinese figurines sold for $35,925.
- The first known political bobblehead was of President Dwight D Eisenhower in 1958.
- Milwaukee Wisconsin boasts the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum dedicated to celebrating the history and artistry of bobbleheads.
- In 2016, the San Francisco Giants set a Guinness World Record by distributing 40,000 bobbleheads in a single game.
Famous PEOPLE also born on January 7th
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Katie Couric
American journalist, presenter, and producer who’s been a TV host of the “Big Three” major United States broadcast networks: NBC, CBS, and ABC. And she was the first female to host the American version of Jeopardy. Born 1957.
KATIE COURIC Quote
“The idea is that you have to find what’s good for you.”
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Nicholas Cage
American actor best known for a lot of screaming on camera for effect. He’s also part of the Coppola Family. As Ronny Cammareri in Moonstruck, his brother Johnny might have his hand and his bride but he doesn’t have an Academy Award like Nick Coppola. Born 1964.
NICHOLAS CAGE Quotes
“Everything we do impacts someone else’s life.”
“You have to make your choices based on what’s honest for you. You are what you love, not what loves you.”
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Jeremy Renner
American actor best known in the role of Hawkeye in the MCU. He’s also been nominated twice for Academy Awards: best actor in The Hurt Locker and best-supporting actor in The Town. Born 1971.
JEREMY RENNER Quote
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”
Future DATES for National BOBBLEHEAD Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 7 | Saturday |
| 2024 | January 7 | Sunday |
| 2025 | January 7 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 7 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | January 7 | Thursday |
| 2028 | January 7 | Friday |
🦊 Bobblehead FAQ
WHEN is National BOBBLEHEAD Day?
- National BOBBLEHEAD Day is an annual celebration held on January 7th each year.
What’s the most FAMOUS bobblehead set?
- The Beatles’ set of four is one of the most famous ones.
What’s the RAREST bobblehead?
- The 1961 New York Yankees generic bobblehead is quite possibly the rarest of all with only two known in existence. It’s also not of a particular player either.
Are bobbleheads still POPULAR?
- Bobbleheads and the smaller Funko statuettes are still fairly popular items. Baseball teams usually give them away free for attending stadium games each year.
Why we L💜VE National BOBBLEHEAD Day
National BOBBLEHEAD Day celebrates the cultural and nostalgic significance of these novel collectibles. Enthusiasts have a community which encourages creative expression and spreads the joy that bobbleheads bring to all ages.
Bobbleheads are one of the most famous collectible toys to recognize and appreciate the unique subculture that revolves around these nodding treasures.
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NOSTALGIC Charm
Bobbleheads have been a part of various cultural landscapes for decades, and dedicating a day to them helps preserve the tradition and bring a sense of nostalgia to those who appreciate these quirky figures. National BOBBLEHEAD Day sparks that sense of nostalgia, reminding us of simpler times and the joy that these nodding figures brought into our lives.
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WHIMSICAL Entertainment
Bobbleheads are more than just collectibles; they’re a source of whimsical entertainment. Their playful and nodding heads bring smiles to our faces and add a touch of fun to any space.
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Expressing FANDOM
For sports enthusiasts, bobbleheads are a tangible way to express fandom and celebrate the achievements of their favorite teams and players. They become miniature ambassadors of our sports allegiances!
