August 4th is National Doll Day #NationalDollDay. Dolls have changed over the years but when I was growing up I love my Mrs. Beasley Dool and the Raggedy Ann doll I had. before you ask no, I didn’t have a Andy doll but I wish I had. How about you. What was your favorite doll and why? Did you play with Barbies because I did. I even had one that talked when I was little. How about you. Did you have a Barbie that talked?
Did you know we celebrate =Doll Day on the second Saturday in June and this year Doll Day takes place on June 14th this year. Dolls look like miniature people and every child plays with a doll at some point while growing up. Many dolls have names, personalities, families, houses, cars, and a whole backstory, too!
A child can spend hours upon hours in the company of dolls and their make-believe worlds. Dolls aren’t just toys but a great way for children to express their feelings long before they really understand them. Dolls also teach children the important lessons of friendship and sharing. Children often seek comfort in dolls on sad or lonely days. We can even go as far as saying that dolls can help shape our personalities.
It seems like children have always played with dolls and dolls have been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows that dolls are in fact the oldest known toy, with the earliest dolls being made of clay, stone, wood, bone, ivory, leather, wax, and other crude materials.
Excavations of Egyptian tombs dating to as early as the 21st Century B.C. have unearthed dolls made of wood. Clay dolls have also been found in the graves of ancient Greek and Roman children. Just like the children of today, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian children also dressed their dolls in clothing and jewelry according to the latest fashion trends.
Apart from dolls made from sturdy materials, children also played with ragdolls that were traditionally made from spare scraps of material. Ragdolls, dating back to the 5th Century A.D. have been found in parts of the Roman empire.
But of course, in modern times, Mattel’s Barbie has become one of the world’s most popular dolls. First created in 1959, the Barbie doll has continuously enjoyed its status for being one of the best-loved children’s toys of all time.
Mattel owes its success to adapting to the ever-changing markets of various cultures and Countries by coming out with Barbie dolls of various shapes, colors, and sizes, each individually personalized to the inhabitants of a certain region.
Since dolls hold such an importance in our formative lives, Doll Day was created to celebrate the contributions dolls have made to the development of children and how dolls continue to be one of the best-loved toys, centuries after their inception.
Doll Day Activities
- Did you know a few of your dolls from your childhood might have become collectibles over the years. You can search on an online portal to check if your favorite doll is now a rare, cherished valuable.
- If you know a child who loves playing with dolls, then today is the National Dool Day is the perfect day to surprise them with a gift. A doll, dollhouse, or other doll products would be the perfect gift for them.
- You can also donate a doll to an orphanage because you might not play with dolls anymore, but dolls can become a cherished toy for a child who doesn’t have the luxury of having their own doll.
Facts About Barbie
- Did you know the real name of Barbie is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
- Supermodel Twiggy’s Barbie avatar was known as the Twiggy Doll.
- Since her inception, Barbie has had 200 different careers. Can you imagine that?
- Barbie has run for six presidential elections since 1992. and still hasn’t won one. Isn’t that bizarre?
- Around the world, a Barbie is sold every three seconds.
Why People Love Doll Day
National Doll Day celebrates ancient traditions. Apart from being playthings for children, dolls have also been a part of spiritual and religious ceremonies of many cultures and national Doll Day honors the versatility of dolls and ancient traditions.
National Doll Day reminds us of the countless hours that we spent in the happy company of our dolls. National Doll Day also makes us reminisce on our simple, uncomplicated childhoods.
National Doll Day makes children happy since gifting and donating dolls is one of the ways of celebrating National Doll Day = brings happiness to children. Everyone loves a surprise gift, especially children! What better gift is there to give little girls that a doll or two or even three?
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
