Peter Pan Day

What Is Peter Pan Day?

December 27th is "Peter Pan Day." It commemorates December 27, 1904, when Scottish author J. M. Barrie's play "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" premiered at the Duke of York's Theatre in London. More than 120 years later, the story of Peter Pan—the eternal boy who never wants to grow up—is still beloved by children around the world.

The Story of Peter Pan

The Darling siblings, led by Wendy, meet Peter Pan, who comes from Neverland—a place where children live forever young alongside the fairy Tinker Bell. Sprinkled with fairy dust, the children learn to fly and head off to Neverland, where adventures with Captain Hook the pirate, mermaids, the Lost Boys, and fairies await.

Peter Pan's Influence on the World

• Disney's animated film (1953): Brought Peter Pan to a worldwide audience, turning Tinker Bell into a Disney icon
• Stage and musical productions: The Broadway musical has been staged around the world; in Japan, HoriPro's production, first staged in 1981 with Ikue Sakakibara in the title role, became a summer tradition
• "Peter Pan syndrome": A popular term for a reluctance to grow up, spread by psychologist Dan Kiley's 1983 book (it is not a formal diagnosis)
• J. M. Barrie's legacy: Barrie gave the rights to Peter Pan to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children; under a special provision of UK law, the hospital still receives royalties today

On Peter Pan Day

"Never lose the heart of a child, even as you grow up"—in that spirit, today is a good day to revisit the picture books, films, and games you loved as a child.