Yoyos are thought to date back thousands of years to ancient Greece and China, however, the modern yoyo’s rise began in the 20th Century. According to Lucky’s Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos, the yoyo as we know it made its way to the United States in the 1920s, thanks to Pedro Flores, a Filipino immigrant. He began mass-producing wooden yoyos, introducing the American public to the art of “yoyoing.”

His idea quickly caught on.

In 1929, Donald F. Duncan bought the rights to the yoyo trademark from Flores. And Duncan Toys Company began manufacturing yoyos. Duncan was born on June 6th, which is why this date was chosen to commemorate National Yoyo Day!

Duncan revolutionized yoyo’s popularity. He marketed the toy through newspapers, launched nationwide competitions, and fostered yoyo communities long before the internet existed. His techniques laid the groundwork for the yoyo boom in mid-20th century America—tactics that are still in use today, now amplified through social media platforms and global online communities.