National Crayon Day
Celebrated on March 31, National Crayon Day honors and appreciates the fantastic art material that has brought color to the lives of people for generations.
With the advancement of technologies and trends, many new tools have appeared over time, but crayons have remained a favorite for years, loved by both kids and adults.
Crayons have been there for us to create our first doodles or scribbles, to fill coloring books, and to add life to simple concepts.
Creativity has been a delightful activity with crayons, making simple activities fun from classrooms to our rooms in the home.
History of Crayons
The history of crayons goes back hundreds of years, and the exact history remains unclear, but the term “crayon” is a French word, and it usually translates to “chalk pencil."
It was first used in the 1500s, but over time its meaning changed to "pencil," which is still its meaning in modern French.
Even before crayons existed, people used to mix color and wax together.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used a method called encaustic painting. They mixed hot beeswax with colored pigments to create art.
A heat source fixed the colors in place, and even the Roman writer Pliny the Elder defined similar patterns and techniques.
But these ancient methods are way too outdated for the art we know of today, especially for kids or classrooms.
Modern crayons started taking shape in Europe, where oil and charcoal were mixed together to create the initial versions.
Popular artists such as Leonardo da Vinci used pastels that were very similar to crayons during the late 1400s.
Later, in the 1700s, Conté crayons were developed in Paris, combining features of pastels and crayons for artists.
In the early 1800s, crayons appeared in books, and Joseph Lemercier created new types. Wax made them stronger and easier to use.
By the late 1800s, crayons became popular in the U.S., with Charles A. Bowley shaping them like pencils and selling them in boxes.
Alice Binney gave Crayola its name when Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith introduced it in 1903. It quickly became popular.
Today, Crayola is a leading brand. In 2000, experts discovered small traces of asbestos in some crayons, but they assured that the risk was low and safety had improved.
Observing National Crayon Day
Celebrate National Crayon Day by unleashing your creativity, regardless of your age.
Get a box of crayons and start drawing or coloring whatever you want, whether it is detailed art or random scribbles like kids.
You need not be an artist or a professional to enjoy the fun of crayons.
Try looking for your old drawing books, walk down memory lane by recreating those art forms, and use them to relax.
Donate crayons and other supplies to non-governmental organizations, schools, and those who are not fortunate enough to enjoy these.
You might enjoy reading these articles next:
