Although maybe only one person out of a thousand plays the violin, and probably fewer than that are proficient at playing it, most people are familiar with the instrument. Likely, all of us have heard them being played, have enjoyed their music, and have marveled at the skills of violinists.

So it doesn’t matter if you play the violin or not; you can still enjoy a holiday known as National Violin Day. This holiday is annually observed on December 13th and is a good day for everyone to look at the violin in a different light.

The History of the Violin

The violin can trace its history back to one of the earliest stringed instruments ever made – the lyre. Cultures throughout Europe and Central Asia created stringed instruments that were widely used, such as the Kobyz and the Morin Huur.

Most of these instruments can be traced back to an instrument called the Rebab, which would become the Byzantine Lyra by the 9th century and then eventually the European Rebec. During the 16th century in Italy, early violin makers took inspiration from both the Lyra and Rebec in their design.

These instruments became extremely popular all across Europe and were used by both street performers and nobility. The French king Charles IX enjoyed them so much that he had Andrea Amati construct 24 violins for him in 1560.

Facts About Violins

We’ve assembled a few facts about violins we thought you might find interesting. So go ahead and put on some violin music as you read the following accurate, and hopefully interesting, facts about violins.

• Playing the violin will cause a violinist to burn approximately 150-170 calories per hour.
• Violins are usually manufactured from maple or spruce wood.
• To make a modern violin, it takes over 70 different pieces put together very precisely.
• Violin bows can be made from a number of different materials, including horsehair or nylon.
• The first violin strings were made out of sheep gut that had been stretched, dried, and twisted.
• Violin strings have also been made out of stranded steel, silver-plated metals, and synthetic materials.
• Mozart was not only a pianist and composer but also played the violin.
• The most expensive violin ever purchased by a private investor cost over $16 million.
• The fiddle and the violin are the exact same instrument.
• YouTube violinist Lindsey Stirling has over 13 million subscribers as of 2021.
• Early violin training has been shown to improve cognitive skills such as attention span, memory, and nonverbal reasoning.
• The word “violin” comes from the Latin word “vitula.” The modern Latin interpretation of this word is “heifer” or “female cow.”

Observing National Violin Day

National Violin Day can be celebrated by taking the time to learn more about the violin and its history, or if you play this instrument, by taking the time to play it. You can also listen to songs or concerts that feature the violin. While enjoying this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalViolinDay to let everyone know about this holiday.