For most people, socks are something they wear to keep their feet from coming into contact with their shoes, or maybe as something to dance in while listening to “Old Time Rock & Roll” by Bob Seger—as Tom Cruise did in the movie Risky Business.

But for those celebrating National Sock Day, a holiday that falls on December 4th, this day takes on a whole new significance. It’s a day designed to celebrate the humble sock and perhaps to mourn those socks that have become lost in the wash over the years.

The History of National Sock Day

National Sock Day is a holiday that was created in 2016 by an apparel company known as Pair Of Thieves. It’s a day when the humble sock is elevated in stature so that it’s equal to other articles of clothing that tend to get more recognition throughout the year. It’s also a day when people can buy and show off some of their favorite socks.

Interesting Facts About Socks

Since we’re doing a deep dive into socks, it’s worth noting that socks aren’t as mundane as they initially appear. There are some fascinating facts about these garments that we’d like to share with all of our readers. We’ve listed the most interesting pieces of information about socks below.

Socks Were Invented By The Greeks

The first people to wear socks were the Ancient Greeks, and one of the first types of socks made had split toes so they could easily be worn with sandals. These early socks were known as “Sykchos”—a name that became “Soccus” in Latin for the Romans. Some of these early socks were excavated from Oxyrhynchus on the Nile in Egypt, dating from 300-500 A.D.

Early Socks Were Made Using Animal Hair

Speaking of the earliest socks, some of the first socks manufactured were made from matted animal hair. Although that might not sound very comfortable, we’re sure that these early socks were probably nice and toasty warm.

The Average Household Loses 60 Socks A Year

Socks can keep a person’s toes nice and warm, but maintaining a collection of them can become quite costly. What do we mean? Well, it’s been estimated that the average household loses a total of 60 socks per year—which, if true, is quite a bit of money that a person has to spend each year to replenish their sock collection.

Celebrating National Sock Day

National Sock Day is one of the easiest holidays to celebrate. All a person has to do is buy, wear, and display their favorite socks. If they want to broadcast all of the cool socks in their collection, they can also take a photo of them and post it to social media using the hashtag #NationalSockDay.