National Sweater Day is a holiday that’s observed annually on the 4th of February. The sweater is an article of clothing that seems like it might have been a modern invention but is actually one that dates back to the 15th century.

Over the past few decades, the sweater has been the go-to piece of apparel for anyone wanting to stay warm during the cold winter months, all while looking stylish in the process.

It’s also been associated with the Christmas season, especially thanks to holidays such as Ugly Sweater Day. With all of that being said, let’s take a closer look at this day and see why it’s celebrated and why we celebrate it.

The History Of National Sweater Day

Although we’re unsure of who invented National Sweater Day or why they invented it, we do know that it appeared on the Internet around the turn of the 21st century. Needless to say, it’s a holiday that hasn’t been around very long.

It certainly hasn’t been around as long as the sweater, a garment that’s been around for hundreds upon hundreds of years. During the 15th century, some of the first knitted tunics began to be produced on the islands of Jersey and Guernsey.

These garments were knitted by the wives of sailors and fishermen to protect them against the dampness and the cold. Because these knitted garments were made of wool, they naturally repelled water and helped retain the wearer’s body heat.

From the 15th through the 19th centuries, these “sweaters” began to spread all across Europe and be employed by working men in a variety of different industries. During the late 19th century, the sweater would be adopted by U.S athletes and that is when it would begin to be called a sweater.

These initial sweaters were dark blue pullovers that were worn before and after sports competitions to protect the wearer against the cold. All throughout the 20th century, sweaters began to evolve and were not only made with wool but with a variety of natural and synthetic fibers.

Observing National Sweater Day

This holiday is the perfect time for people to break their sweaters out of their closets and wear them. Since this holiday is observed during the beginning of February, they probably already have their sweaters out of their closets and are wearing them.

This is also a good day for people to spread the news about the versatility of sweaters by promoting this holiday in person and online. This can easily be done by using the hashtag #NationalSweaterDay on social media.