National Mascot Day
National Mascot Day is here on June 17 which means the day has finally arrived to appreciate and celebrate those who dance like nobody's watching (that is because nobody actually can see them).
Mascots are really important in sporting events, brand promotion, fests, and other public gatherings and celebrations because who else can uplift people's spirits better?
There is no credible evidence as to who started National Mascot Day but it was definitely the right move as these underdogs need to be celebrated!
What Are Mascots
The term mascot refers to any person, object, or animal that is thought to bring good luck. It has its origins in France.
Today, sports teams, different brands, music groups, schools, universities, and even military units have their own mascots.
Mascots are living billboards, walking advertisements with a pulse. They do not just promote a product or team, they also promote laughter and fun while activity engaging with the audience. Simply put, mascots are quirky cheerleaders in fun costumes.
Popular Mascots and Their Brands
Mr Peanut- Planters
Did you know that the world-famous mascot Mr Peanut was actually drawn by an 11-year-old boy called Antonio Gentile? He was given a compensation of just $5 dollars for his work. The drawing was later polished by a professional artist.
Colonel Sanders- KFC
Colonel Sanders or Colonel Harland David Sanders was the founder of the world-famous KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). Although this iconic chicken recipe was born in Kentucky, Colonel Sanders originally hails from Indiana.
He was the one who perfected the all-time favorite chicken seasoning of the famous KFC chicken.
Ronald McDonald- McDonald
Have you ever wondered about the story behind the cheerful clown mascot of McDonald's? It is inspired by the then-famous clown Bozo who had a show of his own. While the show shut down, the popularity of Bozo Clown remained intact.
Thus, McDonald's then advertising executive who was also connected with the show decided to make the clown the mascot of McDonald's, and boy was it the right decision!
Captain Horatio Magellan Crunch- Cap'n Crunch
Did you know Captain Crunch, a.k.a. Horatio Magellan Crunch, isn't actually a captain? He captains the S.S. Guppy, but it turns out the uniform with three stripes only qualifies him as a commander by naval standards. Despite the technicality, he's fiercely protective of his "Cap'n" title and his delicious, crunchy cereal!
Polar Bear- Coca Cola
Coca-Cola Polar Bear is definitely one of the most loved mascots all over the globe. The man behind the ad claimed that he thought of a polar bear for Coca-Cola because his labrador retriever dog resembled the bear quite a lot.
It is really interesting how these little details make up the story behind the origin of a mascot.
Tony The Tiger- Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
Tony The Tiger has been the face of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes for over 70 years now! But did you know that Tony The Tiger was the ultimate choice of Kelloggs?
They also had three other mascots ready- Katy the Kangaroo, Elmo the Elephant, and Newt the Gnu. However, Tony The Tiger outperformed them all.
Mario- Nintendo
Shigeru Miyamoto, a young gaming whiz at Nintendo, created Mario (originally Jumpman) for the hit arcade game Donkey Kong in 1981. The mustachioed plumber wasn't just fixing pipes then – he was rescuing a damsel in distress from a giant ape!
Mario's instant popularity in Donkey Kong and sequels like Mario Bros where his brother Luigi joined the fun, solidified his status as Nintendo's mascot.
Chester Cheetah- Cheetos
It is absolutely impossible for anyone to not know Chester Cheetah- the mascot of Cheetos. However, the quirky cheetah wasn't the original mascot of Cheetos. He was born in 1986 and prior to him, the Cheetos mascot was a mouse.
Did you know Chester Cheetah even has his own account on X?
Fun Ways to Celebrate National Mascot Day
Dress Up as a Mascot
National Mascot Day is the perfect day to encourage your friends, co-workers, and family members to dress up as their favorite mascot.
Design a Mascot of Your Own!
There has always been a creative genius behind all the popular mascots today and who knows you might become one of them. Thus, test your creativity and artistic skills as you design your very own mascot on this day.
Cheer and Hype Up Mascots
Historically, it has always been the mascots who cheer and hype up the crowd and events. It is time to show appreciation for their work and return the favor. Cheer and hype up your favorite mascots on National Mascot Day.
A Little Education About Mascots
A little education about the history and evolution of mascots is never not interesting. You will be both surprised and thrilled to know the story behind some of your favorite mascots and how they came into being.
Share on Social Media
Share how you celebrated National Mascot Day on Social Media so that more and more people get to know about this fun day. Use the hashtag #nationalmascotday.
