In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day each year on March 21st, you might hear the phrases “Rock Your Socks” or “Lots Of Socks.” You’ll see people celebrating the day wearing fun or mismatched socks… or both!
We started rocking our socks in 2017, just 4 months after Izzy was born, after learning about this fun way to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. By 2018, we had a number of family and friends joining us in this fun celebration, sending us texts and posting on social media. Every year since, we have been blessed with many fun pictures of Izzy’s fans sharing their best pair of fun and mismatched socks.
Even after rocking their socks, we have had family and friends ask us about the reason behind the fun tradition.
One of the reasons is that our chromosomes look a little like a pair of socks. Even more importantly, socks start conversations!
I still recall when Happy Socks started growing in popularity back in the early 2010s. One of my coworkers was wearing crazy, silly socks to work every day and I loved it. When I started wearing fun socks, it drew a lot of positive comments from everyone… even complete strangers.
Similarly, by wearing fun, silly, mismatching socks on World Down Syndrome Day, it’s an opportunity to spark conversation and raise awareness for the Down syndrome community.
Some ideas of what you can share if someone comments and asks about your socks…
– To help understand why World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on 3/21, you can say something along the lines of “Typical people have a total of 23 pairs of chromosomes for a total of 46 chromosomes. People with Down syndrome have an 3 copies of the 21st chromosome… hence World Down Syndrome Day being on 3/21!”
– If you know someone with Down syndrome, tell them you do and that you’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day to help spread awareness.
– To help understand why fun socks, perhaps something like “I’m celebrating World Down Syndrome Day. People with Down syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome. And the chromosomes look a little like a pair of socks!”
– Or if you want to keep it short, even something as simple as… “today is World Down Syndrome Day. Like my socks, people with Down syndrome are a lot of fun!”
Help us spread awareness and Rock Your Socks in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day!
