Have you ever wondered what the word “Lego” really means? Those colorful plastic bricks that dominate kids’ wishlists every Christmas have a story far bigger than you think. Let’s dive in and uncover the origins of this iconic toy.
From Wooden Toys to a Big Idea
In 1932, in Billund, Denmark, a creative carpenter named Ole Kirk Kristiansen started crafting wooden toy bricks. His mission? To spark imagination in young minds. Little did he know, these simple toys were about to launch a global phenomenon.
Four years later, Ole coined the name “Lego”—though even he didn’t fully grasp its deeper meaning at the time.
Plastic Bricks Change the Game
Fast forward to the late 1940s and early 1950s. Ole’s son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, took over the family vision. Ole urged him to switch from wooden blocks to plastic ones. It was a bold move, but it paid off.