Dolls have been beloved and cherished by children and adults alike since the dawn of human civilization. They are reminders of the fun and simplicity of childhood and are often used as some of the first toys that children play with. They also happen to be some of the most collected toys by adults.

Dolls have become such an important part of our popular culture that they are even featured in fantasy, comedies, and horror movies alike. It’s no wonder that there is a holiday dedicated to them. This holiday is known as World Doll Day, and it’s observed annually on the second Saturday in June.

The History of World Doll Day

Throughout history, dolls have been used not just as toys but for spiritual and religious purposes. In ancient Egypt, about 4,000+ years ago, dolls were placed in tombs. Some cultures believed that dolls had mystical and even magical powers. In other words, dolls weren’t just playthings; they were important stand-ins for humans and sometimes even as stand-ins for the gods themselves.

The pedigree of World Doll Day isn’t as impressive as that of dolls. It began on June 14, 1986. This is when author Mildred Seeley created the holiday. The purpose of her creating this holiday was to encourage people to share their love of dolls with each other and the world. She chose the second Saturday of June for this date for unknown reasons, and this day has been observed ever since.

Observing World Doll Day

This is a holiday that people can celebrate in a number of different ways. They can attend one of the many doll collector conventions that pop up around this time, share their love of dolls online with friends and other collectors, or add a new doll to their collection. People can also use the hashtag #WorldDollDay on social media to spread the word about this holiday online.