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What mythological creature has been more beloved over the centuries than the delightful unicorn? As incredible symbols of purity and enchantment, unicorns are loved by both children and adults alike and are integral parts of many fairy tales and legends.

For all the roles they’ve played in literature, cinematography, and art as a whole, unicorns more than deserve their own day. And now is the time to learn more about National Unicorn Day.

How to Celebrate National Unicorn Day

The best way to celebrate this day would be to find a fun, fanciful activity to enjoy with family or friends. Get creative with art, music or other projects that can promote free-thinking and fantasy. Or try out some of these other ideas to celebrate National Unicorn Day.

Check out some ridiculous Unicorn-themed products

You can stop a unicorn from farting rainbows, but you can’t stop us from celebrating National Unicorn Day. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite unicorn-themed products. Here are some of the best ones we could find on the internet for this magical holiday.

Gross
Canned Unicorn Meat Spread Canned Unicorn Meat Spread
$6.99

Get your hands on the most mythical meat ever created by man.

This addition to your kitchen pantry is sure to get the whole neighborhood talking about your taste for exotic fauna.



We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/07/2024 11:50 pm GMT
Magical
Unicorn Squirrel Feeder Head Unicorn Squirrel Feeder Head
$29.99 $19.34

Do the local squirrel population keep stealing your bird feed? If you can’t beat them, then maybe it’s time to just laugh about it instead.

This magical feeder turns every thieving squirrel into a beautiful unicorn from Fairyland. Watching these creatures feast on your backyard bounty is sure to put a smile on your face and add some magic to your day.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/07/2024 06:50 pm GMT

Watch a Film that includes Unicorns

One activity that could be perfectly suited to this day would be sitting down to watch a good fantasy film, preferably one that includes unicorns, of course! It’s likely to have been a long time since having watched The Chronicles of Narnia. Try out one of these interesting films that include a unicorn or two:

  • Legend (1986). This less-than-well-known film actually features a fairly noteworthy cast, including Tom Cruise, Tim Curry and Mia Sara, where darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to eradicate unicorns from existence.
  • Stardust (2007). Starring Clare Danes, this fantasy movie shows how a fallen star (in the shape of a woman) is rescued with the help of a unicorn.
  • Blade Runner (1982). In this sci-fi film, the unicorn plays a symbolic role in a dream as well as in the form of a paper origami shape.
  • Fantasia 2000 (1999). This remake of the classic animated Disney film features Mickey Mouse and his incredible group of friends–including a brief scene with a unicorn who laughs at the other animals going to Noah’s ark.

Throw a Unicorn Themed Party

National Unicorn Day shouldn’t be kept a secret! So get the word out by inviting a few friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers to gather together while enjoying and celebrating everything pertaining to unicorns.

Invite guests to dress up as their favorite unicorn or fantasy character. Provide treats and snacks, like the rainbow themed cupcakes featured below. Decorate using rainbow balloons and streamers, as well as tinsel and glitter of all kinds. It’s like that cups, napkins and paper plates with unicorn designs can easily be sourced at a party store.

Read Books and Learn Some Unicorn History

The above information featuring the history of unicorns only scratches the surface of what can be learned about these fascinating, mythical creatures. Head on over to the library and check out some books that tell the many ways unicorns have played a part in literature over the centuries.

Learn about Unicorns in Scottish Culture

One fun aspect about National Unicorn Day that would be interesting to research (that most people don’t realize) is the fact that the unicorn is actually the national animal of Scotland. This fantastical creature is deeply beloved and has been on the Scottish Royal Coat of Arms at least since the mid-1500s.

Bake Unicorn Cupcakes

How about inviting some friends over to bake colorful cupcakes that can then be topped with colorful icing and sprinkles? Those who would also be willing to bring in a plate of those to work would make a load of friends in no time! Never made cupcakes before? No problem—just follow this simple recipe.

Vanilla cupcakes

Ingredients (makes 12)

  • 110g butter softened
  • 110g caster sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 110g self-raising flour
  • 1-2 tbsp milk

For the buttercream icing

  • 140g/5oz butter softened
  • 280g/10oz icing sugar sifted
  • 1-2 tbsp milk
  • a few drops food coloring

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale.
  • Beat in the eggs a little at a time and stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Fold in the flour using a large metal spoon, adding a little milk until the mixture is of a dropping consistency.
  • Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full.
  • Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and a skewer inserted into one of the cakes comes out clean.
  • Cool for 10 minutes and then until cooled completely on a wire rack.

For the icing

  • Beat the butter in a bowl with half the icing sugar until smooth.
  • Then, add the remaining icing sugar with a bit of the milk, and beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  • Lastly, add the food coloring and mix until well combined. Using a piping bag with a star nozzle, pipe the icing onto the cooled cupcakes.

And voilà! Delicious cupcakes that are as cute as a button and unique as a unicorn.

National Unicorn Day is the perfect day to remember how tales of magic and enchantment influences the imagination for children as well as adults.

History of National Unicorn Day

Unicorns have been mentioned in literature as far back as antiquity—ancient Greek writers believed they lived in the faraway and exotic country of India, which was then largely unknown to Europeans at the time. However, at the time the unicorn was thought to be a powerful, fierce animal that was not to be meddled with.

In the Middle Ages, the unicorn’s image was based greatly on Bible passages that were thought to speak of these animals, and unicorns slowly came to be seen as a symbol of strength, the purest kind of love, and the pets of virgin women.

In fact, there is even a sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a unicorn on her lap and patting it in Warsaw’s National Museum located in the capital of Poland ! Thus, unicorns have been appearing in works of literature for thousands of years, although it is now thought by many scholars that this case of unicorns appearing in the bible may have been a translation error.

The most prominent more modern examples of unicorns that can be found in fantasy literature include Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. Not only that, but the whole immensely popular My Little Pony franchise is also based on unicorns, with the series beginning in the 1980s and being revived a few decades later.

National Unicorn Day was created to celebrate these majestic creatures and help adults remember how much more fun life can be when they let a little magic in sometimes. And this is a great beginning for the celebration of National Unicorn Day!

National Unicorn Day Timeline

2000 BC

Unicorns are featured in carvings 

The most common feature on soapstone stamps in the Bronze Age, this version of the unicorn has a body more like a cow.[1]

400 BC

Earliest description of unicorn in Greek Literature

Greek historian, Ctesias, describes this Indian animal as the size of a horse with a white body, purple head, blue eyes and a cubit-long horn on its forehead.[2]

1980s

Unicorn craze hits pop culture 

Whether on stickers, t-shirts, or lunch boxes, the rainbow unicorn quickly becomes a symbol beloved by little girls, with the Lisa Frank company having a huge impact.[3]

1997

Unicorns are mentioned in Harry Potter 

In the magical world of Harry Potter, created by J.K. Rowling, the unicorn makes an appearance in a variety of ways throughout the series.[4]

2017

Unicorn Frappuccino makes its debut 

Starbucks can help but get in on the rainbow fun when it launches its Unicorn Frappuccino.[5]

National Unicorn Day FAQs

Is National Unicorn Day real?

Sure! National Unicorn Day is a real day that is meant to celebrate everything to do with these amazing mythical creatures. It is acknowledged by individuals, organizations and even universities![1]

When is National Unicorn Day?

National Unicorn Day is celebrated each year on April 9.[2]

What to do on National Unicorn Day?

National Unicorn Day is a great day to learn more about these mythical creatures, understand their role in literature or culture, or perhaps even throw a unicorn party![3]

Are unicorns real?

The idea of unicorns that look like white horses and can fly is based on fiction, but the World Wildlife Federation notes that the rhinoceros is similar and it is very real – and very in need.

See World Rhino Day[4]

Are unicorns in the bible?

Technically, unicorns are mentioned in the King James Version of the bible from the 1600s, but this is now thought to be due to a mistranslation of a 2200 year old text.[5]

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