Today is Odd Socks Day!

What is Odd Socks Day, you ask? Well, Nationaltoday.com says, "Odd Socks day is held on the first Monday of the third week in November. The event is not only a great way to express uncanny styles, it’s also promoting a good cause. The day is meant to remind us to think about our words before we say them and their effects on others." 

Odd Sock Day first started in 2017 as a way to deter bullying in school. With the rise of technology and the added pressure children face social media and at school, the Anti-Bullying Alliance created the day to remind people that it’s good to stand out. By expressing oneself without fear of judgment reaffirms the idea of being who you are is more than enough. If we can appreciate someone else’s odd socks, we can also appreciate each individual’s differences. 

The most obvious way to celebrate Odd Socks Day is by simply wearing your oddest pair of socks. They can be colorful and bright, mix-matched, have an odd pattern, or anything else you can think of. Wear them proudly and get your friends and family in on the action. See which of you can come up with the oddest pair and when people ask about it, tell them about the anti-bullying cause. While donning odd socks, post them on social media with the hashtag #OddSocks and #AntiBullyingWeek. Include a personal message in support of anti-bullying.

So, on Odd Socks Day, let's think about some fun sock facts - did you know . . .

• Socks might not seem daring in the grand scheme of things, but they have their own etiquette. Style guides often state the color of socks should match the color of shoes, otherwise it’s a fashion faux pas. On Odd Socks Day, however, those rules can be forgotten.
• Socks have been around since the Stone Age. Cavemen were actually the first people to wear socks. They wrapped animal skin around their feet and tied them around their ankles for warmth.
• Romans modernized the sock during the eighth century BC -  ‘piloi’, a sock was made of matted animal fur. 
• In the Middle Ages, socks had another major advancement. Trousers were lengthened and socks became tighter with more colorful fabric. People covered the lower part of the leg, and since they didn’t yet use elastic bands, garters were used to keep them from falling. 
• 'Sock' comes from the Latin word 'soccus' which means a loose-fitting slipper which was worn by Roman comic actors.
• The design on the ankle or side of the sock is called a clock.
• Wearing a pair of warm and fluffy socks to bed encourages healthy blood flow and improves the quality of sleep.

You will find more information about Odd Socks Day and socks at this link. So, wear odd socks today and take a stand against bullying!