- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- AppreciationLifestyleWork
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May 29
- Holiday emoji:
- 📎
National Paperclip Day celebrates the ingenious office staple every May 29. This simple twist of metal has a surprisingly rich history and countless alternative uses beyond just binding papers. Join us in appreciating this ubiquitous invention by exploring its impact and sharing your favorite paperclip hacks.
Want to sponsor National Paperclip Day? Learn how
Expected National Paperclip Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that office supply retailers often highlight the paperclip and related stationery items. Look for discounts at stores like Staples, Office Depot, and Amazon on bulk paperclips, binders, and other organizational tools. Craft stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby might feature deals on supplies for paperclip art and DIY projects. Even general merchandise retailers like Walmart and Target could offer promotions on office essentials. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 29 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Paperclip Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalPaperclipDay. Share creative paperclip hacks, DIY art, or stop-motion animations.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalPaperclipDay. Post aesthetically pleasing flat lays of stationery or paperclip-inspired art.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalPaperclipDay. Share fun facts about paperclip history or challenge followers to find unusual uses.
National Paperclip Day Hero
Johan Vaaler
History of National Paperclip Day
Did you know that there is some dispute as to who invented the original paperclip design, which is used to this day? We all love a good controversy, and who would have thought it would be over such a small, seemingly insignificant piece of stationery.
The first patent for the paperclip (a ‘bent wire paper clip’) was awarded to Samuel B. Fay in 1867, in the U.S. The original intent was to use it to attach tickets to fabric. However, its use for holding paper together quickly became apparent. Since then, 50 others also received patents for their versions of the paperclip, the most notable being Earlman J. Wright in 1877 and then Johan Vaaler in 1901. The ‘Gem clip’ design of the paperclip is what we recognize today, though the name might be unfamiliar. This was mass-produced in England in the early 1870s by the Gem Manufacturing Company but was never patented, even though it’s the most common design, which is used to this day. It was only in 1904 that Cushman & Denison registered a trademark for the ‘Gem clip’.
But, coming back to the controversy, our story can be traced back to the German occupation of Norway (from 1940 to 1945), during World War II. Due to Johan Vaaler’s paperclip design, it was (and still is) erroneously believed in his home country of Norway that he was the inventor of the paperclip. Therefore, in 1940, during the German occupation of Norway, students of Oslo University began to wear the paperclip as a non-violent symbol of resistance, unity, and national pride. The logic behind choosing a paperclip was because it ‘binds things together’, therefore it made sense to use it as a symbol of unity. 2015 was the beginning of National Paperclip Day, and it has been celebrated every year since then.
National Paperclip Day timeline
Samuel B. Fay receives the first patent for the paperclip in the U.S.
Students at Oslo University start wearing the paperclip as a symbol of resistance to Nazi rule.
A Holocaust Education class at Whitwell Middle School, Whitwell, Tennessee, creates an internationally recognized movement.
Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald buys a house, a year after trading in a red paperclip.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Paperclip Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Paperclip Day by hosting a ‘Paperclip Art’ contest for employees or customers, showcasing creative uses of this simple tool. Office supply stores could offer special discounts on bulk paperclips and related stationery, or even organize a workshop on paperclip hacks. Cafes might use paperclips in a playful way to hold loyalty cards or small notes, sparking conversation and engagement.
National Paperclip Day FAQs
When is National Paperclip Day?
In 2027, National Paperclip Day is observed on Saturday, May 29, offering a leisurely day to explore its history and surprising versatility.
How many paperclips are used annually?
The sheer volume of paperclips produced annually, often exceeding 11 billion units, underscores their enduring utility despite the rise of digital documents.
What are some alternative uses for paperclips?
The versatility of a paperclip extends to crafting, cleaning small crevices, temporarily mending clothes, and even as a simple antenna, demonstrating its surprising adaptability.
Who invented the modern paperclip?
While many designs predate it, the iconic Gem paperclip was popularized by the Gem Manufacturing Company in the late 19th century, becoming the ubiquitous design we recognize today.
How To Celebrate National Paperclip Day
Watch the movie “Paper Clips”
Released in 2004, this American documentary traces the story of the inception of the Paper Clips Project, which began as a project at Whitwell Middle School, Tennessee to raise awareness about the 6 million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust. By 2001, it had gained international recognition. Find out how by giving this powerful story a watch!
Read up on paperclips
Read the fascinating story of how Kyle MacDonald managed to buy a house by trading a red paperclip in for a fish-shaped pen. His two-story house in Saskatchewan has brought both him and the red paperclip international fame. How’s that for inspiration!
Create something special
Get your creative juices flowing and create some art using paperclips. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the things you can make with these little guys, especially as they come in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes these days. Hint — Pinterest and YouTube can give you a little head start.
5 Useful Paperclip Hacks That Will Change Your Life Forever
Makeshift zipper
If you have a broken zipper, simply thread a paperclip through the metal loop of your zipper, and voila!
No-fuss ornament hook
Broken ornament hooks get old really fast, so use paperclips to hang them with instead.
DIY cellphone stand
Follow that YouTube recipe on your phone by bending a large paperclip into a phone stand to prop it up.
Screwdriver for your glasses
When you find the frame of your glasses is getting a little loose, use a paperclip wire to tighten those tiny screws.
Snack bag seal
Why waste money on plastic clips (not to mention the environmental implications) when a couple of paperclips can seal your snack baggies, keeping the contents fresh?
Why We Love National Paperclip Day
Paperclips carry a historical legacy
The paperclip forever has a place in history as a powerful symbol of resistance to oppression, as it did in Norway during the German occupation during World War II. Thus it can be revived as a powerful symbol, relevant to any struggle where a group of people is being oppressed, and can be used to publicize it.
Paperclips are versatile
By now you know that the uses of paperclips are manifold. There must be several new paperclip hacks with each celebration of National Paperclip Day that comes around. We hope it inspires you to get creative and come up with your own, too.
Paperclips unite us
The paperclip as an item of stationery has literally been designed to hold things together. And it is now an office staple the world over. Isn’t it exciting to think about how cross-cultural and widely used this little item is? Therefore, we can’t think of a better mascot to signify unity on so many fronts.
Social Media Tips for National Paperclip Day
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