Coastin Carl
🏗️ International LEGO Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
Would-be master LEGO builders around the globe mark this day as special because it was on this day in 1958 that Godtfred, the son of LEGO group founder Ole Kirk Christiansen, would submit his patent application for the modern plastic building blocks we know and love today. Neither the founder nor the creative origin of this holiday has ever truly been established. What we do know is that International LEGO Day is celebrated on January 28th each year.
The Birth of LEGO
After heading to Germany to learn woodworking, Ole Kirk Christiansen purchased a small woodworking shop in 1916 near Billund, Denmark. He would produce mostly furniture and build houses until one day his two sons owned up to being involved in burning down his shop when discarded wood chips caught fire.
Ole always made miniature models of the pieces he fashioned such as ironing boards, ladders, and stools. He chose to make inexpensive toys with the wood he still had and rebuilt his workshop to expand the business.
Yo-Yos were big for a time, but he still continued to build furniture to make ends meet. And when the yo-yo fad ended, he used the leftover wood to fashion wheels for toy trucks. In 1934 he founded his new company and named it Lego where he put together two Danish words leg godt which means “play well”.
Predecessors of LEGO
Meanwhile, Hilary “Harry” Fisher Page of the Kiddiecraft toy company was a toy inventor over in the UK and had created the world’s first “Self-Locking Building Bricks” in 1932. He initially imported wooden toys from Russia but began making his own designs. Concerned with how hygienic wood was, he set about tinkering with plastics like Christiansen but much earlier in 1936.
He formed a new venture with his partners called British Plastic Toys Ltd and produced Bri-Plax which included the newly patented “Interlocking Building Cube” in 1940. World War II had caused most progress to come to a halt.
After the War, Page would take what he learned tinkering and would create the self-locking building brick sets which were smaller versions of the building cubes. He would patent the basic design in 1947 which featured 4×2 studded bricks, later side slits allowed for doors and windows to be added, and even a base plate to lock the bricks down.
Introduction of PLASTIC bricks
After WWII, Christiansen bought Denmark’s first plastic injection molding machine and began experimenting with it for his toys in 1947. It’s believed the manufacturer provided him with drawings and samples of Page’s interlocking bricks. He began marketing his own copies of these toy bricks. The Automatic Binding Brick was born in 1949 which was similar to Kiddicraft’s design but with improved interlocking capabilities. These early bricks had limited success but became the precursor to the LEGO brick in 1953.
Christiansen ultimately figured out which plastics he would settle on for his bricks. Cellulose acetate was first used but changed in favor of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic) which was non-toxic and more weather-resistant.
In 1958, LEGO patented the modern design of their brick, featuring tubes inside the bricks and corresponding studs on top. The “stud-and-tube coupling system” design allowed for better stability and versatility in building creations.
Harry Page was never aware of Christiansen and his Legos who started expanding into Western Europe. LEGO would eventually acquire full rights in 1981 to Kiddiecraft’s designs but Page tragically died in the late 1950s fearing the collapse of his company. British Toy and Hobby Association honored Page in 2007 as an innovator in child education and toy design with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Continued INNOVATION
LEGO stopped making wooden toys in the 1960s and began expanding its plastic toy line ever since. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, LEGO steadily grew in popularity, becoming a beloved toy worldwide. The company expanded its product line to include various themed sets, such as Lego Town, Lego Castle, and Lego Space (which yours truly owned).
Over the years, LEGO continued to innovate, introducing new elements like mini figures in 1978, baseplates for building landscapes, and specialized pieces for more intricate designs. By the 1980s and 1990s, LEGO expanded into new markets and licensed themes, including collaborations with popular franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Batman.
Facing CHALLENGES
Despite its historic success, LEGO encountered significant financial struggles in the early 2000s. Several factors contributed to these challenges:
- Overexpansion: During the late 1990s and early 2000s, LEGO pursued an aggressive expansion strategy, investing heavily in new product lines, theme parks, and ventures outside its core business. This rapid expansion stretched the company’s resources thin and diverted focus from its core products.
- Competition from Electronic Toys: The rise of electronic toys, video games, and digital entertainment posed a formidable challenge to traditional toy manufacturers like LEGO. Children’s play habits were evolving, with more time spent on screens rather than engaging with physical toys.
- Decline in Sales: As electronic toys gained popularity, LEGO experienced a decline in sales, particularly in its core markets. The company’s revenue plummeted, leading to substantial losses and financial strain.
- Inventory Issues: LEGO also faced challenges related to excess inventory and inefficient supply chain management. Overproduction and poor inventory management exacerbated the financial difficulties, resulting in bloated stockpiles of unsold products. Yikes!
As the new Millennium came and went, LEGO found itself teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The company was burdened with mounting debt, declining sales, and an unsustainable business model. In 2003, LEGO reported a record loss of nearly $300 million, marking the company’s first annual loss in its history!
This dire financial situation forced LEGO to take drastic measures to avoid collapse. The period of imminent bankruptcy was a pivotal moment in LEGO’s history, shaping the company’s trajectory and instilling valuable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the enduring appeal of timeless play.
MODERN Era
In the mid-2000s, LEGO experienced a resurgence with the success of new product lines like LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits and the LEGO Ideas platform, which allows fans to submit and vote on new set ideas.
Today, LEGO continues to thrive, with a diverse range of products appealing to builders of all ages. The company emphasizes creativity, imagination, and play, staying true to its creed.
LEGO Motto
“Only the best is good enough.”
👦 HOW to Celebrate & Observe International LEGO 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 International LEGO Day!
💙 VISIT a park
You can celebrate by visiting one of 13 LEGOLANDS or by going to one of the 27 smaller LEGOLAND Discovery Centers around the globe. Not there yet? Then perhaps visiting a LEGO-themed retail store – there’s over 850 of them.
💙 STREAM a movie
Watch one of the numerous animated movies from LEGO including the main character of Emmet Brickowski or with DC or Marvel comic-related characters.
💙 CHALLENGE everyone
For a chance at the throne, participate in a 100 LEGO piece-only challenge with friends and family. Then be crowned the LEGO minimalist champion!
💙 RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #InternationalLEGODay, #LEGODay, #NationalLEGODay, #LEGO, #FunHolidays, #JanuaryHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ International LEGO Day.
LEARN more about the history of LEGOS
THE LEGO STORY FOR KIDS
BUILDING BRICKS & MINI FIGURES
MEET A COUPLE OF LEGO GUYS
NINETEEN Fun Facts you never knew about International LEGO Day
- Using LEGOS by adults is relaxing and can help reduce stress and boost mind functions. They even sponsor corporate retreats.
- There are 4 major LEGO movies, 15 LEGOLAND theme parks, 80+ LEGO-based video games, and thousands of teams worldwide that compete in LEGO competitions.
- The first-ever LEGO movie was released in 2014.
- The classic bump on top of LEGO bricks is called a “stud”. The one you find on top of a mini figure’s head not only holds some sort of hat or accessory but also allows a child to breathe if swallowed on accident!
- The design of the LEGO brick hasn’t changed for more than 50 years.
- There are over 60 different LEGO brick colors, including some rare and unique ones like glow-in-the-dark and metallic shades. Chrome black is one of the rarest colors.
- LEGO bricks are so precisely manufactured that they fit together snugly, yet easy to pull apart.
- If you lined up all the LEGO bricks sold in a year (~70 billion), they would CIRCLE the Earth 835 times!
- Playing with LEGOS isn’t just fun; it also helps develop important skills like problem-solving, creativity, and spatial awareness.
- With just six standard LEGO bricks, there are over 915 million possible combinations!
- LEGO has partnered with NASA to create sets featuring the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS), inspiring future astronauts and engineers.
- Factory machines in Billund never take a break, injection molding LEGOS round-the-clock.
- LEGO is derived from the Danish term “leg godt” which means “play well” in English.
- The LEGO brand has an annual revenue of $6+ billion.
- Only 18 out of every 1 million bricks are found to be faulty.
- LEGO building block kits and models are one of the most popular toys in the world, with more than 650 billion LEGO pieces produced since 1965.
- You might want to check under your childhood bed. I owned the Space Command Center LEGO set which is now valued at more than $10,000 pristine.
- LEGO holds the title of the world’s largest producer of rubber tires utilized in their toys. Surprisingly, LEGO manufactures more tires than industry giants Bridgestone, Goodyear, and all the other major tire companies combined!
- At one point LEGO took over Mattel as the world’s largest toy company.
Famous PEOPLE also born on January 28th
-
Thomas Aquinas
Italian friar & priest of the Catholic Dominican order best known for having five arguments that prove God’s existence. Contrary to belief, he did not die a martyr but rather bludgeoned his head on a low-hanging tree branch. Born 1225.
THOMAS AQUINAS Quote
“To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them.”
-
Arthur Rubinstein
Polish born pianist widely considered to be one of the greatest piano players of all time. A staunch supporter of Israel but a non-religious Jew, he started playing at age five eventually working with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra until he died at the age of 96 in Switzerland. Born 1887.
ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN Quote
Even when I’m sick and depressed, I love life.
-
Amy Coney Barrett
103rd Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court making her the fifth woman to be appointed and the youngest justice to serve in modern times. Born 1972.
AMY CONEY BARRETT Quote
“A judge may never subvert the law or twist it in any way to match the judge’s convictions.”
Future DATES for International LEGO Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 28 | Saturday |
| 2024 | January 28 | Sunday |
| 2025 | January 28 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 28 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | January 28 | Thursday |
🧱 LEGO FAQ
WHEN is International LEGO Day?
- International LEGO Day is an annual celebration held on January 28th each year.
How many LEGO bricks are produced each YEAR?
- Depending on the source, between 46 and 70 billion different LEGO pieces are produced each year worldwide.
Which COUNTRY purchases the most amount of LEGO sets per capita?
- Why that would be Germany which ranks #1 followed closely by the USA. Bionicle and LEGO Star Wars are the top-selling LEGO lines.
What’s the BEST-SELLING or MOST POPULAR LEGO set ever made?
- LEGO Mindstorms (Robotics Invention System) was at one point the best-selling LEGO set ever. Since LEGO launched this product in 1998, well over one million sets have been sold globally. But probably the most popular set of all time is LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75192) with an impressive 7,541 pieces.
LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon 75192 - Expert Building Set and Starship Model Kit, Movie Collectible, Featuring Classic Figures and Han Solo's Iconic Ship, Best Gift for Adults- Ultimate Build - Defend the Galaxy and build the largest LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon to date! The perfect set for adult Star Wars fans and expert builders, inspiring hours of play recreating the films or can be displayed as a collectible toy model
- Classic Characters - The Millennium Falcon is built with 7,541 pieces and includes two crews of minifigures - Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and C-3PO, plus Star Wars Episode VII/VIII crew minifigures: Older Han Solo, Rey and Finn
$849.93Buy on Amazon
LEGOS look delicious but why do they taste awful?
- Do as your parents told you and keep certain things out of your mouth … this includes LEGOS!
What happens to bad LEGO pieces? Is there a LEGO Heaven?
- Due to the high standards in manufacturing, it’s quite rare to get a bad piece. Generally, they’re so durable, never decompose, or release any chemicals, and can be passed down from generation to generation. Extra pieces or slightly deformed pieces go to Klingon Sto’Vo’Kor where they can be with less fortunate children in LEGO donation boxes.
Why we L💜VE International LEGO Day
The LEGO brand once became the most powerful brand on the planet and this after rising like a phoenix from the ashes by focusing once again on their key strategy while narrowly avoiding bankruptcy back in 2004.
-
If you can DREAM it, you can BUILD it
Literally, everything these days can be built. If it’s not a kit to build a dinosaur, a race car, Harry Potter, STAR WARS, or even the Seinfeld or Friends set, then you can order all types of special pieces that enable you to build whatever your mind can imagine!
-
LEARNING is Fun
LEGO is a wonderful educational toy that helps children develop skills such as motor dexterity, creativity, teamwork, patience, and problem-solving. Analysis seems to suggest spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination can also be greatly improved.
-
Be Kind to your WALLET
While initially not the most economical toys to come on the market, these tiny bricks are quite resilient and you can definitely get your money’s worth by using them year after year. Playing with LEGOS by infusing a few new bricks with age can give you great mileage down the road expanding the toy’s useful years.
