National Tie One On Day is a holiday for celebrating baked love every year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which falls on November 24th this year. On Thanksgiving Eve, apron-wearers all over America share some love with someone around them with a loaf of Bread and an apron.
Here’s how it works. On National Tie One On Day, apron-clad people in their homes put a sweet little note in an apron, wrap a loaf of Bread in it, and deliver the #Gift to anyone who they’d like to show a little holiday love to.
This can included neighbors, gardeners, friends, and work colleagues, because National Tie One On Day is a day to put the “give” back in Thanksgiving. Tie One On Day (or TOODay as it is often called) isn’t about the apron or the apron-wearer it’s about the love.
Even though National Tie One On Day is traditionally celebrated by women who cook, but Tie One On Day can extend to anyone who is looking to spread some TLC to someone near them. If you can’t bake a loaf of Bread, you can purchase a loaf of Bread from the grocery store.
The very first Tie One On Day was held by apron expert, EllynAnne Geisel, in 2006. EllynAnne Geisel is a maverick and legend in the apron community with her website, “Apron Memories,” and her best-selling books, “The Apron Book” and “Apron Chronicles,” which chronicle the making, wearing, and sharing of the cloth that brings so much comfort and joy.
EllynAnne was preparing for Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Eve and thinking about how people complain about the amount of work they had to do to prepare for the holiday when she remembered a tragedy that had befallen one of her neighbors.
When she realized how lucky she was and decided to express that by sharing some TLC with her neighbor. She wrapped some sweet Bread in an apron and wrote a sweet note that said “I hope this makes your day just a little happier.” Donning an apron, she presented her wrapped treat to her neighbor.
That singular act of kindness inspired the beautiful day we now know as National Tie One On Day. EllynAnne said she felt such joy after her act that she wanted other people to feel and share such joy and love. So, she created Tie One On Day to encourage people all over the U.S. and beyond to share some love and kindness before giving thanks on Thanksgiving.
Tie One On Day is a day to tie on an apron and show some love. Aprons are historically symbolic of warmth, hominess, and hospitality. Today, hundreds of people around the world don their aprons on National Tie One On Day to embody the true spirit of aprons generosity, kindness, and hospitality.
National Tie One On Day Activities
- Tie One On Day celebrates the apron and its contribution to the world over time. You can spend the morning of Tie One On Day sewing a stunning new apron to wrap your baked gift with.
- Even if you’re not the best in the kitchen, you can celebrate Tie One On Day by purchasing baked treats from your local bakery.
- Tie One On Day is all about giving take the opportunity today to think about someone who needs a little extra T.L.C. like your plumber who’s had a bad week, the neighbor who just moved into your neighborhood, the work colleague who just recovered from an illness and show them a little love and kindness. It’s not just the Bread you can share other things too, from money and gifts to time and attention.
Interesting Facts About Aprons
- The earliest depiction of women wearing aprons can be found on ancient figurines of fertility goddesses wearing aprons in Crete dating back as far back as 1600 B.C.
- Did you know back in the middle ages, the specific style or pattern on an apron could tell you what a person’s job was. in other words cobblers wore black aprons, barbers wore checkered aprons, masons wore white aprons, and butchers wore green aprons.
- In the 1500s, women embellished their aprons with various expensive lace and embroidery and, in the 1800s, both maids and wealthy women in England and the U.S. would wear aprons, with the maid’s aprons determined by their employer’s class status.
- The apron was a cultural icon in the 20th Century when aprons became a symbol of family values in pop culture in the 1940s and ’50s. With women were wearing aprons to represent post-war family values and the practicality and creativity of homely women.
- Many ancient Gods have been depicted wearing aprons over the years from Ancient Egyptian Gods to those of China and Central America, there has been some relationship between aprons and ancient Gods and goddesses.
Why We Love National Tie One On Day
Aprons are great and they come in many different designs and sizes and aprons have served many purposes to people all over the world at different times. We all know aprons protect our clothes from the splatter of Sauce to being a handy pocket for everything from scissors to mobile devices.
Who doesn’t love the smell of decadent freshly-made baked goods which we love any opportunity to whip up some delicious goods in the oven and to share the joy of great food with those around us.
It’s tough to remember that there is still love and kindness in the world. Tie One On Day is a time to remind someone that life isn’t so dreary and good still exists in the world.
If everyone showed the kindness and thoughtfulness that is embodied in the spirit of Tie One On Day, the world would be a much better place.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
