International Lego Day, celebrated on January 28th is one of the most colorful days of the year. This day isn’t just about paying tribute to our favorite interlocking plastic bricks; it’s also a special date as it commemorates the day when the original patent for Lego was filed by their creator.
Lego enthusiasts across the globe come together on this day to appreciate the endless creativity, educational value, and fun that Lego brings to our lives. Whether you’re a master builder, a Lego hobbyist, or someone who simply loves the feeling of snapping Lego pieces together, International Lego Day promises to be an exciting day full of fun for everyone.
History of International Lego Day
Every year on January 28, fans all over the world come together to celebrate International Lego Day. This date was chosen to mark the day the original Lego brick system was patented, which took place on January 28, 1958.
The story behind Lego began in the small workshop of a Danish carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen back in 1932. During the economic downturn, he found it hard to sustain his business and turned to crafting toys from surplus wood. In 1934, his business was officially titled Lego, a word derived from “leg godt”, Danish for “play well”.
Influenced by Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks’ design patented in the UK in 1939 and released in 1947, Lego introduced the Automatic Binding Bricks in 1949. However, it was the patenting of their unique brick design on January 28, 1958, that became a landmark event. The bricks were designed with round “studs” on top and a hollow rectangular bottom. This brilliant design allowed for the bricks to be stacked and locked together in various ways, giving birth to infinite possibilities for building.
Since then, Lego has evolved from just constructing bricks to developing themed sets, video games, board games, offering collectible minifigures, and even creating movies and TV shows. Lego-themed amusement parks, known as Legoland, have been established globally. Lego’s reach has further extended through the Lego Club Magazine, launched in the 2000s, to bring together Lego fans worldwide. Moreover, adult fans of Lego gather regularly for conventions and exhibitions showcasing sophisticated Lego models and creations.
International Lego Day Timeline
Foundation of Lego Group
Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund, Denmark, starts making wooden toys. The company he founded is now known as The Lego Group.
Patent of Lego bricks
The modern Lego brick design was patented. The interlocking principle with tubes offers unlimited building possibilities.
First LegoLand Opens
The first LegoLand Park opened its doors in Billund. The park was assembled using 50 million LEGO bricks.
First Minifigure Introduced
The Lego Minifigure was introduced into Lego products, further expanding the creative play scenarios for Lego builders.
Lego Mindstorms
Lego launched Mindstorms product line which includes software and hardware to create customizable, programmable robots.
Lego Star Wars
The Lego Star Wars theme is introduced. It becomes one of Lego's biggest selling theme.
Lego Named 'Toy of the Century'
The British Association of Toy Retailers names Lego the 'Toy of the Century'.
International Lego Day
26th of January is celebrated as International Lego Day to commemorate the patent of the original Lego brick design.
Ideas to Celebrate International Lego Day
LEGO Building Competition
Create a fun day by setting up a contest where participants, be it friends, family, or even the wider community, get to build with LEGO. Make it more interesting by adding a theme to each round of building.
Visit a LEGO Store or Theme Park
Embrace your love for LEGO by taking a trip to the nearest LEGO store or theme park. This can be a true indulgence for LEGO enthusiasts.
LEGO Movie Night
Arrange a cozy movie marathon featuring all LEGO-focussed movies and series. From 'The LEGO Movie' franchise to 'LEGO Ninjago', there's so much to choose from.
Donate LEGO Sets
Buy some LEGO sets and donate them to the local children's hospital, orphanage or schools. The happiness and creativity they bring can really make a difference.
LEGO History Lesson
Engage in a fun history class about LEGO. Be it just you or a bigger group, learn about the origins of LEGO, how it redefined the toy landscape and its influence on popular culture.
7 Interesting Facts About Lego
The Origin of Lego
Lego has humble beginnings in a tiny carpenter shop based in Denmark. The term 'Lego' is derived from the Danish phrase 'leg godt', which translates to 'play well'.
Unimaginable Lego Combinations
With just six pieces of identical eight-stud Lego bricks of the same hue, the possible combinations for assembling them accelerates to a staggering 915,103,765 ways.
Lego Figures
The inaugural Lego Minifigure was created in the year 1979. Since its inception, over 4 billion Minifigures have been produced, surpassing the global human population.
Environment-friendly Lego
Lego has set an ambitious goal to identify and use environmentally-friendly alternatives to produce its iconic bricks by the year 2030.
World’s Largest Lego Model
The record for the biggest Lego model ever constructed was established in 2013 in New York. The model, a Star Wars X-wing Starfighter, consisted of over 5 million Lego pieces.
Lego’s Effect on Architecture
A significant number of contemporary architects credit Lego for fuelling their architectural creativity and developing a keen interest in design.
Lego Tower Height
The tallest Lego brick structure on record soared to a height of 114 feet and was composed of more than 500,000 individual bricks.
International Lego Day FAQs
Next International Lego Day Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 28th | Saturday |
| 2024 | January 28th | Sunday |
| 2025 | January 28th | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 28th | Wednesday |
| 2027 | January 28th | Thursday |
| What is the pattern? | Every January 28th | |
International Lego Day Word Search
- LegoGroup
- Blocks
- Bricks
- Construction
- Creativity
- LegoLand