World Puppetry Day
Every year on March 21st, World Puppetry Day aims to recognize puppetry as a global art form. It's also a day to celebrate puppeteers around the world.
You should obviously be familiar with puppets. You've obviously seen a puppeteer in action if you're like most people. You may have even tried with a puppet yourself. However, you may be surprised to learn how old puppetry is. Puppets can be traced back to the 5th century BCE. Even puppet theaters in Asia's China, India,, and other places in Asia. In certain ceremonies, Native Americans also used puppet-like figures.
Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) was established in Prague in 1929. Puppeeers in the United States kept their art a mystery. Puppeeers weren't until the first half of the twentieth century that puppeteers began to share more details about their jobs. They also started staging public puppet shows. Thanks in large part to Tony Sarg, a well-known puppeteer at the time, who was largely responsible for this. When puppets became widely available, it resulted in the establishment of the Puppeteers of America in 1937. UNIMA-USA was founded in 1966 by Jim Henson. UNIMA Australia, UMIMA Pakistan, British UNIMA, and UNIMA France followed suit, with UNIMA Australia, UMIMA Pakistan, British UNIMA, and UNIMA France following suit.
Puppets are everywhere today. Puppets are everywhere. Not just in the United States, but around the world. Puppets can be seen on stage, on television, and in films.
These are some of the most popular puppets to include:: Some of the most popular puppets include::
- Pinocchio
- Punch and Judy
- Howdy Doody
- Lamb Chop
- Kermit the Frog
- Elmo
- Daniel Striped Tiger
Can you think of a famous puppet that you grew up watching on television or saw in the theater?
How to track #worldpuppetryday
Puppet shows are obviously one of the most popular activities on this day, of course, puppet shows!
To participate:
- Help your children make their own puppets
- Put your toy puppets together and put on a puppet show of your own
- Learn about famous puppeteers such as Fred Rogers, Jim Henson, Bil Baird, Shari Lewis, and Frank Oz
- Watch TV shows and movies starring puppets including The Muppets, Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and Alf
#WorldPuptionDay, don't forget to post your favorite puppet on social media with #WorldPuptionDay.
History has recorded the first world puppetry day in history
Javad Zolfaghari, an Iranian immigrant, came up with the idea for World Puppetry Day. During the UNIMA World Congress in 2000, He suggested a discussion for the day. In 2002, UNIMA declared March 21st as World Puppetry Day on March 21st. On March 21st, 2003, the first official World Puppetry Day was held.
