The idea to celebrate International Day of Puppetry, or World Puppetry Day, around the world came to the famous puppet theater figure Jivad Zolfagariho from Iran. In 2000, at the XVIII Congress of the International Union of Puppet Theater Workers (Union Internationale de la Marionnette, UNIMA) in Magdeburg, he submitted this proposal for discussion.
But despite the fact that the discussion about the place and time of this holiday was very lively, this issue was never resolved. Only two years later, at a meeting of the UNIMA International Council, the date of celebration was determined.
The tradition of the holiday of puppeteers around the world was opened by the day of March 21, 2003. It is from this time that all professionals and fans of the puppet theater celebrate International Puppeteer Day.
Margareta Niculescu, who then held the post of President of UNIMA, appealed to all puppet theater figures to turn the day of March 21 into an exciting ritual for the glory of puppet theater: «Let puppet shows be performed on this day, discussions are held, meetings are held, let all professionals and amateurs unite one of the oldest art forms of — puppet theater! Let everyone around us become participants in our holiday! Let everyone end up in the puppet theater!».
The world of puppet theater — is the innocence of childhood, its purity and spontaneity (Photo: Africa Studio, licensed by Shutterstock.com)
According to the famous figure of the Indian Puppet Theater Kapila Vatsayan: «The world of puppet theater — is the innocence of childhood, its purity and spontaneity, and the wisdom of a philosopher. For me, puppet theater always harbors a special charm, since it is a unique phenomenon in the field of art: in its amazing simplicity and, at the same time, in its polysemy, it is a — real Universe of mysterious and figurative, mystery and fantasy. Arising in real time and space, puppet theater returns our souls to their true essence...».
Today this holiday is widely celebrated in many countries around the world not only by professionals themselves, but also by fans of this kind of art. According to tradition, on this day, theater workers and creative puppet groups organize the most unusual puppet performances, creative meetings, concerts and other festive events.
• Infographics – poster «March 21 — International Puppeteer Day»