At one point in time, neckties were an essential part of every man’s wardrobe. You had to own at least a few of them to wear not only to work but also out to dinner or for other activities. Then, the popularity of the necktie began to decrease. First, men stopped wearing them for nights out on the town, and now they are even beginning to disappear from some offices.

This likely means that the necktie is probably going to completely fall out of fashion and become obsolete. However, there is one observance month that is trying to buck that trend. National Tie Month is observed in December and hopes to keep neckties relevant, at least for the next few years.

The History Of National Tie Month

Unfortunately, we were unable to uncover the history of National Tie Month, so we decided to switch gears and instead focus our attention on the history of the necktie. According to historians, the necktie was introduced to Europe by Croatian mercenaries serving in France during the Thirty Years’ War.

The name of this knotted neckerchief was given the French word cravate — the French term for Croats. Cravats (as it’s known in English) became a fashion craze and were worn by both men and women.

They would remain popular until the Industrial Revolution in the mid-19th century. People wanted neckwear that was comfortable to wear and easy to put on, so neckties ended up replacing cravats. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Interesting Facts About Ties

If you’ve tied yourself into knots waiting for some interesting facts about ties, then you can definitely relax. That’s because we’ve found plenty of tie-related facts that we think everyone can appreciate. Let’s take a look at them before continuing on with an exploration of National Tie Month.

• In 1979, the province of Gilan in Iran banned ties because they were seen as a sign of Western decadence.
• Grabatologist is the official term for someone who collects ties.
• In the 1920s, it was predicted that neckties would be out of style by the 1930s. That obviously didn’t happen.
• Every year, over $100 million in ties are sold in the U.S.
• The “Tie Industry” is a billion-dollar industry.

Observing National Tie Month

During this month, everyone who wants to wear a tie should go ahead and do so. And once they do, they should definitely snap a picture of themselves wearing it so they can post it on social media. Each post should be marked with the hashtag #NationalTieMonth, so other necktie enthusiasts will be able to find it.