Paperclip Day
Celebrate Paperclip Day 📎 in the Obscure Holiday Calendar app with themed artwork, reminders, and quick-share cards.
Overview
Paperclip Day, observed annually on May 29th, celebrates the ingenuity and enduring utility of the humble paperclip. This day acknowledges the simple yet effective design of this indispensable office tool, which has helped organize documents and bind ideas together for over a century, highlighting its significant, albeit understated, contribution to daily life and productivity.
Origin and story
Although Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler patented a paperclip design in 1899, the widely recognized 'Gem' paperclip design was likely developed earlier in Britain and was never patented.
During World War II, Norwegians wore paperclips on their lapels as a subtle symbol of unity and non-violent resistance against the Nazi occupation, as wearing national symbols was forbidden.
Quick facts
- DateMay 29
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
Norway built a monument to a man who didn't invent the paperclip they think he did. Johan Vaaler patented a single-loop paperclip design in 1899, but the double-looped "Gem" clip everyone actually uses had already been in production in Britain for years — the myth stuck anyway, and during World War II, occupied Norwegians wore paperclips on their lapels as a quiet symbol of resistance and unity.
Wear the symbol yourself
- Clip a paperclip to your lapel or bag for the day as a nod to the Norwegian resistance tradition, even though the "inventor" story behind it turned out to be a myth.
Read how the myth and the memorial happened
Helpful resources: Gizmodo unpacks the mix-up and its WWII afterlife in "How the Humble Paperclip Became a Secret World War II Symbol."
Look at the design itself
- Compare a classic Gem clip to a modern plastic-coated or triangular one, and notice how little the core wire-loop mechanics have changed since the 1870s.
Did you know?
Norway still has a giant 23-foot Gem-style paperclip monument dedicated to Vaaler — meaning the statue depicts a design he never actually patented.
Fun facts
- Although Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler patented a paperclip design in 1899, the widely recognized 'Gem' paperclip design was likely developed earlier in Britain and was never patented.
- During World War II, Norwegians wore paperclips on their lapels as a subtle symbol of unity and non-violent resistance against the Nazi occupation, as wearing national symbols was forbidden.
- The paperclip is celebrated for its simple yet effective design, which securely fastens papers together without permanent damage, making it one of the most successful and long-lived office supplies.
Sources and attribution
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is Paperclip Day?
- It is observed on May 29 each year.
- What is Paperclip Day?
- Paperclip Day, observed annually on May 29th, celebrates the ingenuity and enduring utility of the humble paperclip. This day acknowledges the simple yet effective design of this indispensable office tool, which has helped organize documents and bind ideas together for over a century, highlighting its significant, albeit understated, contribution to daily life and productivity.
- How do people celebrate Paperclip Day?
- Wear a paperclip on your lapel as a nod to the Norwegian WWII resistance tradition, and read up on how the paperclip's supposed inventor, Johan Vaaler, actually never patented the classic Gem design everyone uses.
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