We do so love these random special days that someone has actually taken the time to memorialize. And when we saw that April 10th was International Safety Pin Day, we just had to give it a shout out. Because how often can we all come together and celebrate…a small, pointy piece of metal.
I mean, apparently that’s what the world needs right now. Otherwise, why would anyone have gone to the trouble of getting this day listed on the holiday calendar? Or taken the time to write a whole blog post about it?
But why should we celebrate the safety pin? Is it because it’s a marvel or engineering? Is it because it’s a symbol of human ingenuity? Or is it because we just needed an excuse to throw a party and safety pins were the only thing we could agree on?
The holiday in its honor began in 2015 and was originally called simply “Safety Pin Day”. However, apparently that designation just didn’t do it justice so in 2017 it became “International Safety Pin Day”, a day dedicated to celebrating the versatility and usefulness of the safety pin. It’s a way to acknowledge the humble clip’s ability to hold things together, whether it’s a hemline, a torn shirt, or a misbehaving zipper.
Long before becoming a fashion accessory or a symbol of political solidarity, the safety pin already had a rich and storied past. In fact, it’s been around for over 170 years. It was invented in April of 1849 by American mechanic and inventor, Walter Hunt.
Born in 1796, Hunt was a prolific inventor. Among his inventions were a repeating rifle, a fountain pen, a knife sharpener, a streetcar bell, the sewing machine and - the point of this week’s blog post - the safety pin. Hunt came up with the design (to prevent injuries to fingers and other parts of the body) as a way to pay off a $15 debt to a friend. He didn’t get any real cash or fame from his invention and sold the patent to W.R. Grace & Company for $400. He paid his friend back and pocketed the remaining $385.
The safety pin quickly became popular. Its simplicity, elegance and household presence have made it much more than just an item of utility, but also of culture and tradition. In India, for example, safety pins and sewing needles are kept for generations and passed from mother to daughter. In the Ukraine it is still a practice today to pin safety pins to the inside of a child’s clothing, to ward off evil spirits. In many European countries, finding a safety pin is good luck, and a portent of good fortune.
In the 1970’s, thanks in large part to the emergence of Punk Rock, the safety pin became a new art form, used for body piercings and clothing decoration. It grew to become a symbol of punk culture among media and pop culture outlets.
The Do It Yourself (DIY) “stick and poke” is a popular form of tattooing that uses a safety pin and ink.
And today, the safety pin has taken on still another meaning. It’s a symbol of solidarity with marginalized communities and a way to show support for those feeling vulnerable or threatened. And while some may roll their eyes at the idea of a small piece of metal making a difference, the truth is that sometimes, the simplest gestures can have the biggest impact.
So, whether you’re wearing a safety pin as a form or body art, a way to keep your zipper closed, or as a symbol of support, take a moment to just appreciate the practicality of this unassuming little clip and celebrate it on International Safety Pin Day. Because, as well all know, sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.
We realize that we’re a couple days late in bringing this holiday to the attention of those of you who might have been unaware of it. So you can get it on your calendars moving forward, we’re providing this convenient table of future International Safety Pin Day dates.
Year | Date | Day |
2024 | April 10 | Wednesday |
2025 | April 10 | Thursday |
2026 | April 10 | Friday |
2027 | April 10 | Saturday |
2028 | April 10 | Monday |
Let us know how you plan on celebrating our friend, the safety pin, in the future.
Now, this is an interesting fact that makes me a little sad. The the W.R. Grace empire paid $400 for such a universally honored and used item! Even in total’s dollars the ripped him off! That $400 would be the equivalent of $15,679.79 today. How many genius inventors have been taken advantage of!
But let’s marvel at the invention as it has saved me from many embarrassing situations! I made many necklaces with my daughters, helped when I had to sew a hem (yes I sew, no well but I can), helped get a splinter out of my fingers, held up a string of Christmas lights outside. Yes a versatile invention that I will now celebrate every April 10!