What mythological creature has been more beloved over the centuries than the unicorn? 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!

History of Unicorn Day

Unicorns were mentioned 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. However, the unicorn was then 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. Thus, unicorns have been appearing in works of literature for thousands of years.

The most prominent more modern examples 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. The whole immensely popular My Little Pony franchise is also based on unicorns.

Unicorn Day was created to celebrate these majestic creatures and help adults remember how much more fun life can be when we let a little magic in sometimes.

5 FACTS ABOUT UNICORNS

1. He who cannot be named

   In ‘‘The Philosopher’s Stone’’, Lord Voldemort is made to drink unicorn blood to stay alive.

2. Gold unicorn at the ball

   Ballet star Rainer Krenstetter dressed up as a unicorn at the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria.

3. United with mother

   In Warsaw’s National Museum there’s a statue of the Virgin Mary holding a unicorn on her lap.

4. Born from words

   The word unicorn comes from the Latin word unus, meaning one, and cornu meaning horn.

5. Piercing lie

   Legend says a unicorn may pierce the heart of a liar with its horn.

NATIONAL UNICORN DAY DATES