World Puppetry Day

World Puppetry Day is an international holiday dedicated to puppet theater. It is celebrated every year on March 21. On this day, we enjoy the skill of puppeteers and watch the best productions!

History

World Puppetry Day was created in 2003. The proposal was made by the International Union of Puppeteers (UNIMA). The holiday maintains the tradition of puppetry and popularizes this type of theater performance.

According to historical information, dolls appeared in the ancient world. The birth of puppet theater also happened a long time ago. For example, a terracotta doll with a removable head was found during excavations. The find belonged to the Indus Valley civilization and is more than 4,300 years old! Thanks to the rope fasteners, it was possible to control the doll itself and even its head. In the Indian scriptures, like the Ramayana, there are references to puppets and puppet shows.

Puppet theater was also present in Japan and other Asian countries. Historical information confirms that there were puppets in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. From there, they likely spread to the rest of Europe.

Interesting Facts

• UNIMA was formed in 1929 when Czech puppeteers decided to hold a large exhibition and sent out invitations to puppeteers from various countries.
• The most popular types of puppets are glove puppets (controlled by hand), finger puppets (worn on fingers), and marionettes (controlled by a system of strings).
• There is a special puppet theater in Sicily that shows multi-part performances.

How to Celebrate

Visit a puppet theater to enjoy a stunning performance by puppeteers. Call your friends or family! Learn more about how sets are made and how puppets are handled. Try making a theater puppet yourself!

Spread the word on social media. Ask other users if they like puppet shows.

When is World Puppetry Day in 2025?

World Puppetry Day is observed on March 21 each year.

Observations