January 3

Drinking Straw Day

Make Drinking Straw Day a blast with creative recipes, fun activities, and environmentally-friendly straws!

Yearly Date

January 3

Observed in

Introduction

Celebrate Drinking Straw Day on January 3rd with a big sip of your favorite beverage! This special day marks the invention of this indispensable device, first created in 1888 by Marvin Stone. Since then, drinking straws have become an essential part of our daily lives and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. From paper and plastic to stainless steel, there’s a perfect drinking straw for every occasion. So get ready to raise a glass (with a straw!) and join us in honoring the humble drinking straw!

Drinking Straw Day Timeline

1888

Straw Patent Granted

Marvin Stone receives the patent for the first paper drinking straw, providing a cleaner and more convenient method for drinking beverages.

1936

Flexible Straw Invention

Joseph Friedman invents the flexible drinking straw to aid his young daughter in drinking a milkshake, changing straw design forever.

1950s

Plastic Straw Emergence

With the rise of fast food culture, the 1950s saw the switch from paper to plastic for mass-produced straws, increasing their durability.

2015

Straw Pollution Awareness

The viral video of a turtle suffering from a lodged straw raises global awareness of the environmental impact of disposable plastic straws.

2018

Plastic Straw Bans

Cities and companies around the world begin to enact bans on plastic straws in an effort to reduce plastic waste and protect marine life.

2020

Rise of Reusable Straws

As public awareness grows, so does the popularity of reusable straws made from metal, bamboo, glass, and other sustainable materials.

How to Celebrate Drinking Straw Day

1 Make your own straws

Making your own drinking straws is a great way to celebrate Drinking Straw Day. Gather some pipe cleaners and bend them into the desired shape. Then, decorate with paint or markers for a truly unique straw.

2 Organize a straw party

Throw a party where everyone brings their own creative drinking straws. Challenge people to make the most unique straws, or have everyone sip drinks through their creations.

3 Make a straw art piece

Make a mosaic out of drinking straws in any shape that you like. It could be a portrait of you or your favorite animal, or anything else you can think of.

4 Go on a straw hunt

Go to the store and look for unique drinking straws. Check out the selection of plastic, metal, and paper straws, and pick out some that stand out.

5 Create a straw sculpture

Get creative with drinking straws and create a sculpture that stands on its own. You can make anything from a dragon to a castle. Have fun with it!

Why We Love Drinking Straw Day

Straws add convenience

Drinking straws offer a convenient way to sip drinks quickly and easily, without having to always hold onto the cup or bottle. Plus, they help to reduce spills and messes for those of us who are a bit clumsy!

Straws come in fun colors and shapes

When it comes to drinking straws, there are many different styles and designs to choose from. From boring black and clear options to colorful striped patterns or even cute animal shapes, the possibilities really are endless.

Straws are eco friendly

An increasing number of businesses are now offering paper alternatives to traditional plastic drinking straws. This is great news for the environment, as it can drastically reduce plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans!