National Barbie Day: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about National Barbie Day (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. National Barbie Day is observed on March 9th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of National Barbie Day, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as important facts you need know about National Barbie Day.

📅 What day is National Barbie Day 2024?

In 2024, National Barbie Day is on Thursday, March 9th. It is the 2nd Thursday in March; in 2024, it is Saturday. There are until the next observance. You also can explore all the exciting details and facts about March 9, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Get ready to celebrate National Barbie Day on March 9th by wearing some aqua! This special day commemorates the debut of Barbie, the iconic 11-inch doll, at the American International Toy Fair in New York in 1959. Created by Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel Inc., Barbie was designed to inspire young girls to imagine their future lives. Throughout the years, Barbie has taken on various roles, from a nurse to an astronaut, showcasing endless possibilities for girls. In 1961, due to high demand, Barbie’s creator introduced Ken, her partner. On National Barbie Day, we honor and celebrate everything about Barbie and her impact on popular culture.

📜 National Barbie Day History

Barbie was created by Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toy Firm, who was inspired by a German doll called Lilli. Lilli had sexist characteristics and a more mature appeal, and Handler wanted to design a doll that represented a grown woman. While on vacation in 1956, Handler discovered the Lilli doll and noticed how much her daughter Barbara loved it. Prior to Barbie, most dolls were either babies or young children, so Handler aimed to create a doll with the body of an adult woman. After years of hard work, Barbie was introduced at the American International Toy Fair in 1959, named after Handler’s daughter. The original Barbie doll had only one body type but quickly became popular among people of all ages. Over the years, Mattel has made changes to Barbie’s anatomy to address claims of sexism and appeal to a wider audience. This included adding other characters like Midge, Teresa, Ken, and Christie to the Barbie line in 1963. Barbie has been a role model and companion for children and adults for over 60 years, challenging social norms and playing a significant role in empowering girls.

✅ National Barbie Day Facts

🔖 Ken is younger
Ken is two years older than Barbie.

🔖 Engineering at its best
Barbie was developed in collaboration with a missile engineer.

🔖 She is named after the creator’s daughter.
Barbie’s name is derived from Barbara Handler, the daughter of the Handlers, who are the creators of Barbie. Similarly, Ken’s name is based on their son, Kenneth.

👍 Why Is National Barbie Day Important

Barbie has had almost 150 occupations since her inception. She’s been an astronaut, a CEO, and even a presidential candidate! Barbie serves as a role model and encourages young girls to follow similar jobs.

Barbie is entertaining for the entire family! Ruth Handler designed Barbie as a toy for her daughter and named it after her. Ken is named after Handler’s son, which is a fun tidbit.

Mattel was the first company to broadcast commercials to children, launching the Barbie toy and ushering in a new era of advertising. They began advertising on the Mickey Mouse Club, which significantly increased Barbie sales. Every parent understands that their children will pester you about what they want until they get it!

🙂 How To Observe National Barbie Day

⚡ Blast some Aqua
Feel free to play Aqua’s popular song “Barbie Girl” from 1997, with our permission. You don’t even need a specific reason to enjoy it. The lyrics about living in a plastic bag are quite fascinating.

⚡ Play Barbie, of course
Create lasting memories by engaging in imaginative play with Barbie alongside your children or loved ones! Don’t worry about getting carried away and joining in on the fun with Barbie – we won’t judge!

⚡ Buy your Barbie new clothes
Take your Barbie doll on a fun shopping adventure! You have two options to explore her wardrobe. You can either browse the complete collection on Mattel’s website or choose to support independent artists by buying from Amazon. Either way, your Barbie doll is ready to explore the fashion city and find the perfect outfits.

📅 When is National Barbie Day?

See all 🔗 March holidays, including 🔗 Special Interest and other 🔗 Brand holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about National Barbie Day. So be sure to check back soon.