If, like us, you grew up with Lava lamps in your world, then you’ll want to put on something tie-dyed today and mark National Lava Lamp Day (April 5).

Lava lamps – as a brand – have been around since 1965, and this now cultural icon is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

According to MIT, Edward Craven Walker got the idea for developing the classic version of the lava lamp in 1948 after he saw an egg timer in a bar in Hampshire, England, made of a glass shaker placed in a pan with a boiling egg.

“The shaker contained a ball of wax in water that, when melted, would turn into a dynamic, globular, floating substance, indicating that the egg was done. A man known only by the last name of Dunnett had patented this device, but he was deceased, leaving Walker to ponder the possibilities for a similar design.“

Walker’s idea was to use an electric lamp to melt the wax, and his design used a ‘secret’ formula of oil, wax and more than a dozen other ingredients.

His Lava lamps packed the mixture in a glass globe on a gold base with a variety of optional ‘lava’ colors, red or white, with yellow or blue liquid.

Since then, lava lamps have helped fuel the psychedelic ramblings of generations.

You can make your own lava lamp with crayons, oil, rubbing alcohol and water by following the directions in the video below.

Or you can buy a modern-day version in stores and online and from Schylling, the toy company that makes them in a wide variety of sizes in ever-so-groovy Andover, Massachusetts.

Wish there was a town that had the World’s Largest Lava Lamp?

It may happen.

The folks in Soap Lake, Washington have been working on just such a project for many years.

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