History of National Hobby Month
The etymology behind the word hobby can be traced back to the 16th century word “hobyn” meaning “small horse and pony.” The term “hobby horse” was a toy horse purchased in Reading, England in 1557. Originally called a “tourney horse,” this toy horse was made of a straight stick with a small horse’s head made also of wood or stuffed fabric. Hobbies are often referred to as a “pastime,” derived from the use of hobbies to pass the time. From “hobby horse” came the expression “to ride one’s hobby horse” meaning “to follow one’s favorite pastime.” Over several centuries the term “hobby” grew to be associated with recreation and leisure. While in the 17th century it was generally perceived as a childish pursuit, with the growth of the industrial society, hobbies took on greater respectability by the 18th century. Over years, hobbies are now an activity that is a regular practice serving a worthwhile purpose to individuals. Hobbies can be practiced for pure enjoyment or interest, and sometimes even financial reward.
Today hobbies are embraced all over the world and people’s passion for their hobbies has taken them places they never would have thought possible. From reading, writing, and collecting, to art and video games, whatever it is that gets your gears going, this January is your opportunity to kick it into full swing and let your inner hobbler out! https://nationaltoday.com/national-hobby-month/
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Time Use Survey, Americans spend about five hours a day on leisure activities and hobbies. The only thing we spend more time on daily is sleep. But we all spend our down time in different ways and a new survey of more than 60-thousand Americans reveals the most popular hobbies and activities in the U.S.
America’s Top 10 Favorite Pastimes
- Cooking and baking – 41% spend their free time in the kitchen
- Reading – 37% love relaxing with a good book
- Pets – 35% say spending time with their pet is their favorite hobby
- Video games – 33% escape and unwind by gaming
- Outdoor activities – 30% enjoy being outside grilling, swimming, hiking and more
- Shopping – nearly 30% like to spend their leisure time on retail therapy
- Traveling – 29% say this is their favorite hobby
- Arts/crafts/DIY – 25% prefer activities like sewing, woodworking, drawing, painting and other hands-on tasks
- Socializing – 26% consider this their favorite leisure activity
- Board games – 26% also enjoy playing board games in their free time
https://k102.iheart.com/featured/amy-james/content/2024-08-14-ranked-americas-favorite-hobbies/