National Red Mittens Day is a holiday observed annually on November 21st that celebrates Canadian pride—especially as it pertains to Canadian Olympic athletes. Canadians across the country are encouraged to wear red mittens to show their athletes the respect and love they deserve.

This holiday was launched prior to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and has managed to maintain its significance all these years later. It’s a day to don your newly purchased red mittens and cheer on the Canadian athletes who put in the hard work to achieve their dreams.

The History of National Red Mittens Day

This holiday was created by Hudson’s Bay ahead of Vancouver 2010. They sold red mittens to support Canadian athletes in achieving their dreams. They continue to sell red mittens, and a portion of those sales goes towards supporting Canadian athletes.

Interesting Facts About Gloves & Mittens

Let’s talk about mittens—not only red mittens but mittens of every type. We feel that many people are unaware of what makes this piece of apparel so important and fascinating. So let’s take a few moments to look deeper into mittens and their history.

• Fingerless gloves in colonial America were known as mitts.
• A glove is a garment that covers each finger and thumb separately, while mittens usually keep the fingers together and the thumb separate.
• It’s believed that Ice Age humans knitted simple mittens.
• During the Middle Ages, nobles and bishops wore gloves made of leather or fabric.
• In the 19th century, thin white cotton gloves worn by servants were known as Berlin gloves.

Observing National Red Mitten Day

On this day, people are encouraged to buy red mittens and support Canadian athletes. People are also encouraged to use the hashtag #RedMittensDay to spread the word about this holiday. So go out there, support Canadian athletes, and show off your Canadian pride.