International Top Spinning Day

International Top Spinning Day is a holiday observed on the second Wednesday in October every year. This day is dedicated to a toy that has been around for almost 6,000 years and has brought countless generations hours upon hours of spinning fun. Tops are toys that come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are a whole lot of fun to play with, thanks to the physics that make them work.

They are held up by angular momentum, and some tops have been known to spin for over 40 minutes at a time! That makes them a popular toy all over the world, and a toy that goes by several different names.

The History of International Top Spinning Day

Before we delve into the history of this holiday, we would like to take a few moments to talk about the history of tops. These devices are some of the oldest toys ever discovered by archaeologists. A clay top was found in modern-day Iraq that is over 5,520 years old. There was also a wooden top found in the tomb of King Tut that was carved in 1,300 B.C. Both of these examples show that tops have been around for quite a long time.

Now, let’s dig into the history of International Top Spinning Day. This holiday was first created in 2003 by the Spinning Top and Yo-Yo Museum in Burlington, Wisconsin. They created this day to spread the word about not only how much fun it is to play with a top but also to highlight its historical significance.

Observing International Top Spinning Day

This is a holiday in which children, and those adults who retain a childlike wonder, can have some fun. This can be done simply by purchasing a spinning top and then playing with it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a brand-new top or a vintage one; all that matters is that it brings fun to all involved.

Top enthusiasts can also take the time to visit the Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum in Burlington, Wisconsin. We also encourage people to spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #InternationalTopSpinningDay on social media.

When is it?
This year (2024)
October 9 Wednesday
Next year (2025)
October 8 Wednesday
Last year (2023)
October 11 Wednesday
Topic
Fun & Joy