National Pencil Day

National Pencil Day is an annual American holiday dedicated to the pencil. This product is commonplace today, but in the past, it was a real discovery! Let’s go back in time and find out how the amazing combination of a wooden tube and a long graphite rod inside, known today as a pencil, came to be! The holiday is observed on March 30.

History

The history of National Pencil Day is not exactly known, but the invention of the pencil is lost in the depths of centuries. In ancient times, people used birds’ feathers by dipping them in wet soot. Gradually, ink was created.

The history of the pencil begins in the 16th century, when graphite was discovered. This was the name given to it by the German chemist A.G. Werner, only two centuries later. Many people confused it with lead because the color was indeed similar. The usefulness of graphite was discovered by farmers who marked their livestock with it!

A Swiss researcher suggested inserting pieces of graphite into wooden tubes and using such a device for writing. The idea quickly took root in society, and Britain held the monopoly on pencil production for a long time. Experiments with graphite were conducted in all countries, so gradually pencils became available all over the world.

Interesting facts

• Colored pencils were invented in 1820. Then they started adding chalk, glue (kaolin), and various dyes to the rod.
• The rubber band, the main attribute of the pencil, appeared in 1770 thanks to chemist D. Priestley. He noticed that the gum from South American trees does an excellent job of erasing pencil marks. That’s how the rubber eraser gum came into being.
• The date was chosen to commemorate the event of March 30, 1858, when H. Lipman patented a modern pencil with a small eraser on top.

How to celebrate

Upgrade your stationery kit by buying some new pencils. Today, there are different types of pencils according to hardness. Artists and draftsmen will definitely appreciate this variety!

Spread the word on social media. Ask users how often they use pencils.

When is National Pencil Day in 2025?

National Pencil Day is observed on March 30 each year.

Observations