Almost everyone remembers the smell of a new box of crayons. National Crayon Day, on March 31, celebrates these colorful wax sticks that have helped generations of children, and plenty of adults, draw, color and create. Crayons are simple, safe and inexpensive, making them one of the most accessible art tools ever invented. It is a perfect day to color, draw, or try a creative crayon craft.
History of National Crayon Day
Drawing sticks made of colored wax, chalk or charcoal have been used for centuries. Early European crayons in the 1600s and 1700s were often made of charcoal and oil, and wax crayons were developed in the 1800s.
In 1903, the company Binney & Smith in New York introduced a box of eight wax crayons for children, selling for a nickel. The colors were black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow and green. The name of the brand was coined by Alice Binney, combining the French word for chalk with part of the word 'oleaginous', meaning oily.
Crayons became a classroom staple in the 20th century. Boxes grew to 64 colors in 1958, and manufacturers have added, retired and renamed colors over the years, sometimes letting the public vote. Today, crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment, poured into molds and wrapped in paper labels. Who created National Crayon Day is not documented.
Why National Crayon Day Matters
Crayons are often a child's first art tool, helping them build fine motor skills, color recognition and creativity.
Coloring is also popular with adults as a relaxing activity.
How to Celebrate National Crayon Day
- Color together: break out coloring books or blank paper for the family.
- Make crayon art: melt old crayons into new shapes in silicone molds.
- Recycle crayons: donate old crayons to programs that remake them.
- Try crayon resist: draw with crayon, then paint over with watercolor.
- Name a color: invent and name your own crayon color.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, set out crayons and paper during a meeting break or put large coloring sheets on the break room table for a stress-relieving creative moment. In classrooms, crayons are perfect for art experiments: students can try crayon resist with watercolors, make rubbings of textured surfaces, or melt broken crayons into new multicolored crayons with adult help. Science lessons can explore how wax melts. At home, families can have a coloring afternoon, make homemade cards, or sort old crayons by color and recycle broken ones into new shapes. Children love inventing names for new colors.
Fun Facts About National Crayon Day
- A box of eight crayons sold for a nickel in 1903.
- Boxes of 64 crayons appeared in 1958.
- Crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment.
National Crayon Day FAQs
When is National Crayon Day?
National Crayon Day is March 31.
When were crayons invented?
Wax crayons were developed in the 1800s; the first popular children's box of eight appeared in 1903.
What are crayons made of?
Paraffin wax and color pigments.
How can I recycle old crayons?
Melt them into new shapes or donate them to crayon recycling programs.