Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

National Knuckles Down Month – April 2024

National Knuckles Down Month is celebrated in April. You’re probably thinking that this holiday has something to do with boxing or M.M.A. The phrase “knuckles down” refers to the position that marble players take just before launching their shooter marble. The game of marbles is one of the oldest forms of entertainment, played by people of all ages. You might think that it’s lost popularity over time, but the hobby is still alive and well thanks to dedicated enthusiasts. On National Knuckles Down Month, they get to share this age-old entertaining game with everyone.

History of National Knuckles Down Month

The history of marbles dates back thousands of years. Nobody knows where marbles originated from, all we know is that they’ve existed in almost every civilization. Archeologists have discovered marbles in shrines, homes, and burial grounds. The earliest marbles are thought to be polished stones that were smoothed over by river and lake currents for years. They were most likely collected as trinkets before being used to play games by early humans. In West Sussex, England, the game of marbles has been played for centuries. Its origins go back as far as 1588. It was and still is known as ‘taws.’

The British World Marbles Championship is an annual sporting event that has been held since 1932. Other countries also participate in the championship. Traditionally, marbles were played on Ash Wednesday right through to Good Friday. Locals believed that playing marbles after that period would attract bad luck. By the 18th and 19th centuries, handmade marbles were highly valued in Europe and the Germans dominated this industry with their master craftsmanship. The marble industry in the United States did not take off until James Leighton patented a special pair of tongs.

The tongs were introduced in the late 1800s, paving the way for mass production. The products were called ‘transition marbles’. The 1920s and 1930s saw a boom in the marble industry in the U.S. At a time when most businesses in America were failing, marble companies were making a profit. Marbles have evolved from children’s toys to beautiful collector’s items as manufacturing techniques have improved. Marble collecting is still popular today, with some rare editions fetching up to $10,000.

National Knuckles Down Month timeline

3000 B.C.
The Earliest Evidence of Marble Toys

Semi-precious stones are discovered buried with the remains of a child in Egypt.

2000 B.C.
Marbles in Ancient Greece

Marbles found in Crete, modern-day Greece, are displayed at the British Museum.

43 B.C.
Marbles in Ancient Rome

The game of ‘nuts,’ an early Roman variation of marbles, is so popular among citizens that the poet Ovid writes about it.

1560
A Painting Depicting Children Playing Marbles

A painting by Pieter Bruegel depicts children playing with marbles, indicating that it was a popular game among European children at the time.

National Knuckles Down Month FAQs

How does the marble game work?

In a game of marbles, the objective is to knock the opponent’s marble outside the ring, by flicking their marble against it using their index finger.

How many marbles do you need to play?

Everyone has their specifications but a proper game of marbles has 49 ordinary marbles, and each player has a ‘Tolley,’ which is a larger marble used to knock other marbles outside the ring.

What are big marbles called?

Marbles larger than the ordinary ones go by many names, like ‘boulder,’ ‘shooter,’ ‘thumper,’ ‘bowler,’ and ‘smasher.’

National Knuckles Down Month Activities

  1. Play a game of marbles

    What better way to celebrate National Knuckles Down Month than by playing a game of marbles? It's a fun, hands-on way to learn about the subject.

  2. Buy some marbles

    If you’re not interested in playing the game, that’s alright. Marbles are pretty little things. You can buy some and put them in a glass jar to brighten up your workspace.

  3. Learn more about marbles

    The game of marbles has existed in various forms and with various rules for thousands of years. This month is National Knuckles Down Month, which is the ideal time to brush up on your knowledge of this popular pastime.

5 Marvelous Facts About Marbles

  1. Marble games are a competitive sport

    It’s not just for kids — marbles games are played by adults in countries like the U.S., England, Germany, and Australia.

  2. Marble players have a special name

    ‘Mibster’ is the name given to marble players and enthusiasts.

  3. Marbles used to be expensive

    It wasn’t until the early 1900s that marbles became affordable, thanks to mass production using hardened clay in the manufacturing process.

  4. There is a marble museum

    The American Toy Marble Museum, which opened in 2002, is located in the same place as the former American Marble factory that burned down in the 1990s.

  5. Marbles aren’t made of marble anymore

    Most modern marbles are made of recycled glass, while others are made of ceramic, steel, plastic, and clay.

Why We Love National Knuckles Down Month

  1. It’s a callback to simpler times

    Before Candy Crush and Fortnite, children played with marbles. It’s a reminder of simpler, more innocent times.

  2. Marbles are not just for kids

    Adults can play with them too, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They can also collect and trade rare marbles with other mibsters.

  3. It’s good for your brain

    Playing with marbles increases spatial awareness and sharpens fine motor skills. This simple game was good for the brain all along.

National Knuckles Down Month dates

YearDateDay
2024April 1Monday
2025April 1Tuesday
2026April 1Wednesday
2027April 1Thursday
2028April 1Saturday
Be Kind to Spiders Week
Blue Ribbon Week
Golden Rule Week
International Pooper Scooper Week
Laugh at Work Week
Medication Safety Week
National Bake Week
National Cancer Registrars Week
National Public Health Week
National Window Safety Week
Take Your Poet to School Week
Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
April Fools' Day
Assyrian New Year
Boomer Bonus Days
Community Garden Week
Cyprus National Holiday
Dyngus Day
Easter Monday
Edible Book Day
Fossil Fools Day
International Fun at Work Day
International Tatting Day
Library Snap Shot Day
Lupus Alert Day
Martyrdom of Imam Ali
Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
Myles Day
National Connor Day
National Fun Day
National Greeting Card Day
National Loyal Day
National One Cent Day
National Sourdough Bread Day
National Trombone Players Day
Nature Day
Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day
Odisha Day
Reading is Funny Day
St. Stupid Day
Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
U.S. Air Force Academy Day
U.S. Air Force Academy Day
White House Easter Egg Roll
Adopt a Ferret Month
Adopt a Greyhound Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Autism Acceptance Month
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage Month
Cancer Control Month
Canine Fitness Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Cesarean Awareness Month
Child Abuse Awareness Month
Children and Nature Awareness Month
Counseling Awareness Month
Couple Appreciation Month
Cranberries and Gooseberries Month
Deaf History Month
Defeat Diabetes Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Dog Appreciation Month
Earth Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Fair Housing Month
Filipino Food Month
Financial Capability Month
Financial Literacy Month
Fresh Florida Tomato Month
Genocide Awareness Month
Global Astronomy Month
Global Child Nutrition Month
Grange Month
Heartworm Awareness Month
IBS Month
Informed Women Month
International Amateur Radio Month
International Customer Loyalty Month
International Guitar Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Month of the Military Child
Move More Month
Multicultural Communications Month
Multiple Birth Awareness Month
National African-American Women's Fitness Month
National Alcohol Awareness Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Car Care Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Decorating Month
National Donate Life Month
National Facial Protection Month
National Food Month
National Foot Health Awareness Month
National Fresh Celery Month
National Frog Month
National Garlic Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Humor Month
National Internship Awareness Month
National Kite Month
National Knuckles Down Month
National Literature Month
National Minority Health Month
National Month of Hope
National Pecan Month
National Pest Management Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
National Poetry Month
National Rebuilding Month
National Safe Digging Month
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
National Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Education and Awareness Month
National Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness Month
National Social Security Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soy Foods Month
National Volunteer Month
National Welding Month
National Woodworking Month
National Youth Sports Safety Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Panagyaman Rice Festival
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parliamentary Law Month
Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month
Physical Wellness Month
Poetic Earth Month
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
Primary Immunodeficiency Month
Records and Information Management Month
Records and Information Management Month
Rosacea Awareness Month
Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
School Library Month
Scottish-American Heritage Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
Step up for 30 For Bowel Cancer Month
STI Awareness Month
Straw Hat Month
Stress Awareness Month
Summer Tire Changeover Month
SunSmart Skin Cancer Prevention
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Tomatillo and Asian Pear Month
Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
Workplace Conflict Awareness Month
World Autism Month
World Landscape Architecture Month
Worldwide Bereaved Spouses Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.