Happy Pink Flamingo Day!

Many of you may not be aware that June 23rd is Pink Flamingo Day! Yes, in a world full of weird and wonderful celebration days, this might not surprise you and yet it is probably not what you first think. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna And Flora, flamingos are not considered to be a threatened bird, so this day is not about raising awareness of an endangered species ... well, not a real-life wild one anyway ... it is in fact a celebration of the pink plastic garden ornament! 

Pink Flamingo Day was founded on June 23, 2007, by Mayor Dean Mazzarella of Leominster, MA, USA to honour the 50th birthday of the iconic lawn ornament.

Created in 1957 by Don Featherstone for Union Products, they were meant to be a festive way for homeowners to personalise the identical yards of postwar suburban houses. Despite the initial popularity of these birds, they eventually became a target of derision and a symbol of tackiness over the years. They did however get a reprise in 1972, when John Waters' film Pink Flamingos helped bring the decoration to a new audience, one that appreciated irony, tackiness and full on kitschness. 

In the late 1980s, so many knock-offs were being produced that Featherstone added his signature to the moulds to identify the real thing. Union Products closed its doors in 2006, after producing more than 20 million fabulous pink flamingos. But fear not, Cado Company in Fitchburg, MA, USA bought the rights a few years later and now manufactures birds with the inventor’s signature on the bottom. So if you're after the real deal, they are still in production.

The resurgence of flamingo love in the last couple of years hasn't shown much sign of dying down and judging by the amount of flamingo themed products that are still available today, pink flamingos ain't going nowhere baby.

So, maybe go grab yourself some of these kitsch birds, or if you already own a pair (or more) of plastic fantastic pink flamingos, clear a prominent space in your front garden and make sure your pink flamingos are in prime position this weekend! ... or even better, use it as an excuse to throw a fabulous flamingo-themed party!

We, of course, never say no to a bit of kitsch! You can find our offerings to the god of flamingo in our Flamingo Collection!

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