Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day

People all over the world will be sporting wacky socks today in honor of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) to raise awareness for the genetic disorder. WDSD was first observed in several countries in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2011 when the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day, according to Down Syndrome International.

And there’s a lot of significance behind why we celebrate on March 21. The date marks the 21st day of the third month of the year, which denotes a unique trait of Down syndrome where people have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two.

Learning a child or family member has Down syndrome can rock your world. Anything that has the potential to make a loved one’s life a little bit more complicated can be a tough blow, so it’s only natural to take some time to come to terms with the diagnosis. But parents who have a child with Down syndrome witness firsthand how differences are what make us beautiful. Which is why WDSD is a special day to not only spread awareness, but also honor all the unique qualities those with Down syndrome possess.

So pull up your crazy socks and snap a silly shot for social media using the hashtags #LotsOfSocks, #WorldDownSyndromeDay and #WDSD19. You can also give back by making a donation to your local, regional or national Down syndrome charity or by supporting Down Syndrome International’s Global Support Campaign.

Here’s a look at some of our favorite fashions from WDSD 2019: