National Bobblehead Day

National Bobblehead Day History

National Bobblehead Day is a unique holiday in America that appreciates the entertaining novelties known as bobbleheads, also referred to as nodders or wobblers. Their playful quality of an oversized head that bobs when lightly tapped has offered joy and whimsy for centuries. The purpose of this day is to commemorate these amusing collectibles and appreciate their vast range, from sports figures to comic book characters, and encourage people to start or expand their collections.

The history of bobbleheads traces back to the 17th century in Asia and Europe, but their entry into American culture happened in the 1960s. Initially, bobbleheads were generic figures, but they expanded into celebrity figures like The Beatles, which kickstarted their widespread popularity. Major League Baseball produced a series of player bobbleheads in 1960, cementing them as popular collectibles.

National Bobblehead Day, inaugurated by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in 2015, encourages people to celebrate the joy and amusement associated with the nodding figurines. Participants often share their collections on social media, organize local events or simply enjoy their favorite bobblehead at home. The day also marks an occasion to explore the rich diversity of bobbleheads and their evolution over time. This holiday is celebrated annually on January 7th.

Facts about National Bobblehead Day

• According to SportsCasting, the most expensive Bobblehead ever sold was a 1961 Yankees Bobblehead for $60,000.
• Some of the earliest versions of bobbleheads were Asian figurines of religious figures, such as Buddha, called "temple nodders".
• Possibly the earliest known Western reference to bobbleheads is in a 1842 short story by Nikolai Gogol named The Overcoat. Gogol describes the neck of the main character as "like the necks of plaster cats which wag their heads".
• The Guinness world record for largest bobblehead is held by the insurance company Applied Underwriters (USA) in Orlando, Florida since April 8, 2016. The 15 ft 4.75 in (4.69 m) bobblehead is a giant St. Bernard dog, the company's mascot.

In the News and Trending for National Bobblehead Day

Top things to do for National Bobblehead Day

• The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is in the works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you are passionate about bobbleheads, you can help them by contributing to their Kickstarter, becoming a member of the museum right now, or just following them on Facebook. Watch this short video to learn more.
• If you have bobbleheads, take pictures of them and share them through social media with the hashtag #NationalBobbleheadDay. Invite your friends to do the same.
• Watch this video showing an impressive Lebron James bobblehead collection.