National Cartoonist Day
May 5, Monday
History of the holiday
The date of May 5 was chosen in honor of the birthday of James Gillray, one of the first well-known political cartoonists in 18th century Britain. He is considered one of the founders of political satire in graphic art.
Meaning and purpose of the holiday
- Recognizing the contribution of cartoonists to culture and freedom of expression
- Encouraging creativity and visual humor
- Reminding people of the importance of satire as a form of public dialogue
- Supporting young artists and developing the genre
How it is celebrated
- Publishing cartoons in the media and on social networks
- Organizing exhibitions, contests, and workshops
- Thematic flash mobs with drawings
- Presenting albums and archives of well-known cartoonists
Interesting fact
Cartooning has existed since ancient times — elements of satire can be found even in Ancient Egyptian frescoes and classical ceramics. However, it was with the rise of print that the genre became truly influential.