National Bobblehead Day
Fast Facts
- WHAT
- Recognizes a day of celebration for all spring-connected head bobbing figurines
- WHEN
- Celebrated each year on January 7
- FOUNDER
- Founded in 2017 by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
- VIBE
- Bouncy, Iconic, Quirky
NATIONAL BOBBLEHEAD DAY
Each year on January 7th, National Bobblehead Day recognizes a day of celebration for all spring-connected head bobbing figurines.
#NationalBobbleheadDay
Bobbleheads have charmed sports fans, movie buffs, and dedicated pop culture collectors for over a century. Known by their oversized heads perched on delicate springs, these whimsical novelty figurines can be traced back to ancient Chinese and European nodding-head ceramic statues. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, German artisans began mass-producing porcelain nodding figures of animals and folktale characters, establishing the foundation for the future of bobbleheads.
Did you know?
Bobbleheads were originally called "nodders" or "bobbers."
The craze of bobbleheads entered American pop culture during the 1950s and 1960s, driven largely by baseball. In 1960, Major League Baseball issued the first standardized paper-mâché and ceramic player sets, featuring generic boyish faces painted in distinct team uniforms. Special custom nodders immortalized all-time greats like Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Roberto Clemente. Then the Beatles cemented the toy's crossover into mainstream music merchandise with their famous 1964 boxed set.
During the 1970s, interest of bobbleheads tapered, but they began to make a massive comeback in the late 1990s. By May 1999, when the San Francisco Giants handed out a Willie Mays bobblehead as a free ballpark promotion, interest in bobbleheads sparked an industry-wide revolution.
Today, stadium giveaway (SGA) bobbleheads remain one of the most reliable ticket-selling promotions in professional sports. Sports figures and superhero figurines have grown into a multi-million-dollar collectibles market that continues to entertain collectors worldwide.
National Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum
On November 18, 2014, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum was also announced. The museum opened in 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and houses the world’s most extensive collection of bobbleheads. The museum houses a hall of fame honoring the best bobbleheads and exhibits related to the history and making of bobbleheads.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BOBBLEHEAD DAY
National Bobblehead Day is the perfect opportunity to explore the world of bobbleheads.
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Share your favorite bobblehead, or collect a new one!
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Give the gift of a bobblehead to someone you know.
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Learn something new about bobblehead history.
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Visit the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Share your bobblehead on social media using the hashtag #NationalBobbleheadDay.
Do you want to know more about bobbleheads? Read Celebration Spotlight where we interview Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.
NATIONAL BOBBLEHEAD DAY HISTORY
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum submitted National Bobblehead Day in December 2014. The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed the National Bobblehead Day in 2014 to be observed annually on January 7th.
Bobblehead FAQ
Are bobbleheads only sports figures and mascots?
No. Today, bobbleheads represent pop culture, politics, sports, and history. In addition, custom bobbleheads can be made in your own likeness.
Is a bobblehead the same as a wobbler?
Yes. The bobblehead goes by a variety of names including wobbler and nodder.
Do bobbleheads do anything else besides...bobble?
Yes. Some of them include prerecorded messages. Press the button to find out what the bobblehead has to say.
Are bobbleheads collectible?
Yes. Some bobbleheads can be quite collectible. Their value may be determined by the subject, quality, popularity, and how many were produced.
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