When it comes to puppets, people can be categorized into one of two camps. They are either in the camp where they think that puppets are cool and magical, or they’re in the camp where they think that puppets are kind of creepy.

If you fall in the latter camp, then World Puppetry Day is probably not the day that you’re going to want to celebrate. For everyone else, this is a holiday that falls on the 21st of March and celebrates the world of puppetry. This is a day to watch puppets, use puppets in performances, and talk about puppets.

The History Of World Puppetry Day

Puppetry is an art form that goes back thousands of years. Historians believe that it originated approximately 4,000 years ago. Some historians believe that it might have even predated acting by actors. What historians don’t know is exactly where it originated.

Some historians believe it began in Africa, while other historians claim that it originated in Asia. Regardless of where it started, this form of theater has entertained people for a long time.

World Puppetry Day is a holiday that has a more clear history than the general art of puppetry. This day was invented by Javad Zolfaghari, a puppet theater artist from Iran. He would bring the proposal of creating a holiday for puppetry at the XVIII Congress of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) in Magdeburg.

In 2002, at the International Meeting of UNIMA in Atlanta, the date of the celebration was decided upon. The first celebration of it would be on March 20th, 2003. It’s been observed every year ever since.

Observing World Puppetry Day

All around the world, this holiday is observed with puppet festivals, puppet making, and puppet shows. People can donate their money to various puppet organizations, or even try their hand at making their own puppets. People can also spread the word about this holiday online using the hashtag #WorldPuppetryDay.