National Rubber Ducky Day!

National Rubber ducky day. 2022, Myungja Anna Koh

National Rubber Ducky Day!

 ​The rubber duck doll is the most friendly item for children's bath time. Children float a rubber ducky toy on the bathtub water and play with it.
"You make bath time lots of fun. Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you!" sang Sesame Street's Ernie during bath time.

  In fact, in the 1940s, sculptor Peter Ganine created the first floating duck-shaped toy and patented it, and sold more than 50 million copies. (Wikipedia)  Sesame Street makes it become a world-famous toy.

  ​The plump, bright yellow rubber duck also has a cute and friendly image that makes viewers smile. This rubber duck toy's day is January 13.
The National Day website below has a well-organized timeline based on the origins of this day.

https://nationaltoday.com/national-rubber-ducky-day/

​Take a bath!
Celebrate the ducky in the way it was intended! Pour some bubbles into your tub, light candles, and turn on some relaxing music. Take some time for yourself to relax and recharge, and put a couple of rubber ducks in the bath for some added fun! (Excerpt from National Day website)

  There's a reason the duck, which is nothing more than a rubber doll, has become an iconic National Day. This goes back to a marine accident.

  In 1992, 22 years ago, a cargo ship a  route from Hong Kong to the United States met a storm in the North Pacific Ocean and nearly sank. At this time, a container full of rubber duck toys fell into the sea. As a result of this accident, 28,000 rubber duck toys in the container were leaked, creating a toy island on the sea. Over the next 15 years, ducks and others have faced many difficulties. Floating alone in the open sea, passing through the point where the Titanic sank, some have been imprisoned for years near the frozen Arctic.  

  However, this accident had unexpected consequences. Thousands of rubber duck toys scattered in the sea have been moving along the currents for over 20 years, helping oceanographers to study algae. Rubber Duck toys started off the coast of northern Australia, went through Alaska, Canada, the United States, and then reached the coast of Europe, including England, Spain, and Italy. Those who found it were delighted to see how cute it was. Their story of traveling around the world was also talked about as an exciting story. It was given the meaning of "Happiness will follow if you have a rubber duck." As the giant rubber duck was made, it became a 'symbol of love and peace.

   ​Dutch installation artist Florentine Hoffman started the 'Rubber Duck Project' after creating a large rubber duck sculpture measuring 16.5m, 19.2m long, 16.5m high, and weighed 1t. Starting in 2007, he has toured more than 20 times in 16 countries around the world.

 Since college, Hoffman has preferred to work in public rather than private studios. He said, “He wanted to do art with the public.”

Sydney, 2012 Source: Wikipedia

  This large rubber duck project ended its long tour in Korea. At that time, there was an accident in Korea where a passenger ship named Sewolho sank. On April 16, 2014, around 8:50 am, the ferry Sewol capsized and sank in the sea near Jodo-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. On April 18, 2014, the Sewol Ferry completely sank, killing 304 people, including five unidentified bodies. In particular, it was an accident that caused even greater sorrow and regret as most of the dead were high school students who took on the ferry for  a graduation trip.

Rubber duck project in Seoul

  ​Through his website and Facebook account, Hoffman, the creator of Rubber Duck, said, "'Rubber Duck' has no borders or borders and has no political intentions. I hope that the Korean people who have fallen into disappointment due to accidents and accidents will have an opportunity of 'healing' to share joy and hope and heal their wounds."

The large rubber duck doll that appeared when they were in despair due to pain and hopelessness delivered a message of hope to Koreans. The artist's message, "I want to make you smile," seems to have been conveyed well.

  ​These adorable rubber ducks were also used in the protests for the pro-democracy movement. In Thailand, in anti-government protests, citizens used rubber duck boats to block police water cannon attacks and used it as a sign of resistance and deterrence.

Bangkok = AP News

   

 The rubber duck, which has been children's bathing friend for a long time, is now a symbol of hope and good luck, and has been designated as a national anniversary with this symbolism. With this in mind, I think it would be good to put a cute rubber duck toys on the Bathtub.