Celebrated annually on March 28, Barnum & Bailey Day is a time to honour the circus. More than a century after its founding by Phineas Barnum and James Bailey, the Barnum & Bailey Circus was the source of exhilarating entertainment for millions of viewers. Today, we pay our respects to the World’s Greatest Show.
The background of Barnum & Bailey Day
If you have never heard of this day before, you should now have a general understanding of what it entails. Today, we are shining a literal and metaphorical light on circuses. Not just any circus, but one of the greatest ever.
The Barnum & Bailey Circus, which later became known as The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was founded in 1881 and has a rich history that has contributed to its immense popularity. The circus operated for more than a century, until 2017; it proclaimed itself the “Greatest Show on Earth.”
In the 1700s in England, Philip Astley established the first modern circus. He was the first to create a single venue for horseback riding stunts, acrobatics, comedians, and other forms of entertainment. The Royal Circus, which opened later in the same century, marked the first use of the term circus.
John Bill Ricketts brought the circus to the United States for the first time in 1792, and Joshuah Purdy Brown invented the first canvas structure over 30 years later. P. T. Barnum’s introduction of the very first oddity show, however, brought about a complete revolution in the circus.
After his retirement, Barnum collaborated with William Cameron Coup to establish The P. T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie & Circus, which was dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth” and was the first circus to use circus trains for transportation. After a decade, James Anthony Bailey persuaded P.T. Barnum to combine their separate circus acts to form Barnum and Bailey’s Circus. After the deaths of both partners, the circus was sold to Ringling Bros. World’s Greatest Shows and operated separately until its eventual merger into The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
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BARNUM & BAILEY DAY ACTIVITIES
Attend the spectacle
Yes, circuses still exist to date! There are numerous animal and performance circuses dispersed throughout the globe. Visiting the circus today is the best opportunity to attempt something new. Choose the one closest to you and spend an entertaining day with friends and family.
Online performance viewing
It is acceptable if you do not have the opportunity to tour a circus in person. You can witness live circus performances such as acrobats, tightrope walkers, and jugglers from the comfort of your bed, courtesy of the internet. Check online to see what you can discover.
Discover more about circuses.
We have only provided a concise introduction to circuses and their historical development. Spend some time researching the Barnum & Bailey Circus as well as the history of circuses in general. Don’t neglect to share your findings and promote this day!
5 fascinating facts about the circus
Before the evolution of modern circuses, the term was used in ancient Rome to characterise horse rings.
There are eight distinct tightrope walking variations.
Whistling and eating peanuts backstage are considered poor luck by circus performers, whereas tail hair from an elephant is considered good luck.
The Floating Circus Palace was a circus with a capacity of over 3,000 that floated on a vessel between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
The gymnastic leotard costumes were named after Jules Leotard, the first aerial trapeze star.
BARNUM & BAILEY DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | March 28 | Tuesday |
2024 | March 28 | Thursday |
2025 | March 28 | Friday |
2026 | March 28 | Saturday |
2027 | March 28 | Sunday |