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

Over the past few decades, the sweater has become 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 has also been associated with the Christmas season, especially thanks to holidays such as Ugly Sweater Day. With all 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 who invented National Sweater Day or why it was invented, 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 for very long.

It certainly hasn’t been around as long as the sweater, a garment that has been around for 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 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 across Europe and were employed by working men in various industries. During the late 19th century, the sweater was adopted by U.S. athletes, and that is when it began to be called a sweater.

These initial sweaters were dark blue pullovers worn before and after sports competitions to protect the wearer against the cold. 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 out their sweaters and wear them. Since this holiday is observed at the beginning of February, they probably already have their sweaters out 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.