National Bobblehead Day

National Bobblehead Day occurs on January 7 each year in the United States. It’s a day for fans, collectors, and kids of all ages to honor the goofy and unconventional toy.

Bobbleheads are iconic to American pop culture. Multiple generations of children likely had a sports bobblehead on their dressers or nightstand growing up. Its friendly face offered a simple pleasure, set into action by the tap of its head.

Now bobbleheads represent almost any topic you can imagine. Custom designs and limited editions have become big businesses. To learn more about bobbleheads and National Bobblehead Day, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions.

National Bobblehead Day FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the holiday and bobbleheads.

When is National Bobblehead Day?

National Bobblehead Day is celebrated on January 7 each year. For this year, National Bobblehead Day falls on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

Why do we celebrate National Bobblehead Day?

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum created National Bobblehead Day in December 2014.

How do we celebrate National Bobblehead Day?

National Bobblehead Day is a fun day to celebrate whether you are a collector or just a bobblehead enthusiast. Here are some ideas of how you can get the most out of Bobblehead Day:

Start a bobblehead collection.
Gift a bobblehead to a friend or family.
Share memories of childhood bobbleheads.
Attend a bobblehead convention.
Post your favorite bobbleheads to social media or show your entire collection. Use the hashtag listed below.
Have a bobblehead scavenger hunt for kids.
Attend a game of your favorite team, and pick up a new bobblehead.

What is a bobblehead?

Bobbleheads, a kind of collectible doll, are also known as nodders or bobbers. These small figurines are usually constructed in two parts, the head, and the body, and then attached with a metal spring.

When a bobblehead is moved or its head is pressed down, the nodding action is set in motion.

What is the history of National Bobblehead Day?

The history of bobbleheads traces back over 100 years. But their popularity exploded in the 1950s and 1960s novelty bobbleheads representing professional sports teams.

A resurgence then took place in the late 1990s as sports teams began using them as promotional giveaways at games. These modern variations showed greater detail and life-like features compared to earlier bobbleheads.

Today, bobblehead collectibles are made to represent a broad range of categories, including sports figures, TV and movie stars, comic and fantasy characters, animals, and pets… just about anything you can imagine!

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum created National Bobblehead Day in December 2014, just before the museum opened its doors.

What was the most expensive bobblehead ever sold?

A generic New York Yankee sold for $59,750 at Heritage Auctions in 2014.

What are bobbleheads made of?

Typically bobbleheads are made of plastic or ceramic. Plastic designs are lightweight. Ceramic designs are more traditional and for many the preferred look and feel.

How to make a bobblehead?

Bobblehead fun facts

It is said that the idea for bobbleheads originated from string dolls popular in China and Japan.
The first “nodders” were frequently depictions of Buddha.
It is believed that the first bobblehead was constructed in Germany.
Bobbleheads can be worth big money. A 1961 Yankees bobblehead recently sold for $59,750 through Heritage Auctions.
It is estimated the market for licensed pop culture bobbleheads is nearly $15 billion globally. One of the leading manufacturers of bobbleheads is the publicly-traded company Funko.
A giant-sized Conan O’Brien bobblehead stands 17 feet tall, one of the largest in the world. It can be seen at Harold’s Chicken Shack in Chicago, Illinois.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public in 2016. It displays the world’s largest collection of bobbleheads. You can learn more about bobbleheads at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and the Museum’s official website.

Quotes about Bobbleheads

I’d rather be a nodding acquaintance than a bobblehead.
Josh Stern

The Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation made a bobblehead of me and sent it to my management. No card, nothing.
Patton Oswalt

I never thought I’d be a bobblehead, but little did I know.
Kenan Thompson

Jay Leno’s the only guy on earth who could have a bobblehead made of him that would bobble less than his actual head.
Frank Caliendo

Bobblehead jokes

If I buy a Prius, I’ll make sure to put a bobblehead Yoda figurine on the dash.
Then I’ll have a toy Yoda in my Toyota.

I met the inventor of the bobblehead.
His name is Robert Bullhead. His friends call him Bob.

Q: Did you hear about the man who was hit over the head with a bobblehead in a rice field?
A: It’s the first reported case of a knick-knack paddywhack.

Q: What do bobbleheads and dads in passing have in common?
A: Nod a whole lot.

Cost-savings tip: Replace all “Yes Men” with Bobbleheads next year.

The Dodgers recently had a Manny Ramirez bobblehead night. The doll is so realistic that it drops everything you try to put in its glove.

Captions for Bobbleheads

Use these hashtags when you post your bobblehead pictures on social media. Note that some folks divide the word into two, like bobble heads or even hyphenate it like bobble-head.

Pop culture nodders.
Nodding off.
Bobblehead collector extraordinaire!
I see you agree with me.
Nodded out.
Novel!
Bobbled the ball.
A nod is as good as a wink.
They’ve decided to replace me with a bobblehead.
Bobblehead Mania!
We got the nod!
My bobblehead collection rocks.
The Land of Nod.
Celebrating National Bobblehead Day with my buddies.
Give your bobblehead a wobble!

Hashtags

#NationalBobbleheadDay
#BobbleheadDay
#bobbleheadcollection

When is National Bobblehead Day?

January 7 each year.

That’s all, folks.

By Michael O’Halloran

Michael is the founder and editor of Greeting Card Poet. He previously worked as president of Magnetic Poetry, a gift and toy company.

Etcetera

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