National Rubber Ducky Day 2021: 12 Facts You May Not Know About This Bath Toy KEY POINTS The bathtub toy gained massive popularity in the '70s due to "Sesame Street" Rubber ducks helped scientists learn more about ocean currents and waves Every Jan. 13, National Rubber Ducky Day is celebrated to pay tribute to the rubber duck toy that is likely found in nearly every household in the country. In honor of National Rubber Ducky Day, here are 12 facts that you may not know about this popular bath toy. 1. A long, long history Rubber duckies can trace their origins back to the late 1800s. At the time, the first rubber ducks didn't even float — they were cast solid and were used as chew toys for children. It wasn't until the 1940s when rubber ducks developed into the floating, yellow figure everyone knows today.