Did you know that socks are the most sought after item of clothing in a homeless shelter? Apparently, socks are a desirable commodity worldwide. According to one source: “The global socks market is expected to reach USD 44.8 billion in 2022.” Socks are a thoughtful gift item too: They suggest a personal touch and are usually not very expensive.
Even in Florida, socks are highly valued because they regulate the humidity of one’s feet in summer and keep them toasty-warm in winter, especially in northeast Florida.
Believe it or not, one poet has written a poem about socks, Pablo Neruda, “Ode to Socks,” an excerpt from which you can read here:
by Pablo Neruda
Maru Mori brought me
a pair
of socks
that she knit with her
shepherd’s hands.
Two socks as soft
as rabbit fur.
I thrust my feet
inside them
as if they were
two
little boxes
knit
from threads
of sunset
and sheepskin
He continues . . .
Like jungle
explorers
who deliver a young deer
of the rarest species
to the roasting spit
then wolf it down
in shame,
I stretched
my feet forward
and pulled on
those
gorgeous
socks,
and over them
my shoes.
So this is
the moral of my ode:
beauty is beauty
twice over
and good things are doubly
good
when you’re talking about a pair of wool
socks
in the dead of winter.
During the course of the entire poem, Neruda exudes that these socks are so beautiful that he doesn’t even want to put them on and possibly ruin them!
My winter socks, a wee photo story
“I like long walks to the library,” say these socks.
Wearing socks contributes to a warm and fuzzy feeling, one which the Danes define in the word hygge, which I describe with photos in an earlier post.
For a limited time during this season of giving, I’m offering Mennonite Daughter: The Story of a Plain Girl with special pricing, the deepest discount ever.
$3.99, Kindle e-book, in color $8.99, paperback
How do socks bring you comfort?
What other item of clothing offers warmth and coziness?
Are you planning to give socks to someone as a holiday gift?
Good morning, Marian! Neruda really did write odes to everything! 🙂
Do you collect unusual socks?
I gave my husband some extra warm socks a couple years ago when he was working at the golf course in the cold weather. (One of his retirement jobs.)
I like the Nordic style socks my husband got me one year. They really keep my feet warm in the winter.
Merril, the socks shown here are gifts. The ones I buy for myself are more utilitarian, sans words. Yes, Neruda, wrote about “everything.” A while ago I posted a poem about his take on tomatoes. You have a good memory. Stay warm! 😀
Great post, Marian! And great socks! 😊😊😊 I used to hate getting socks for Christmas, because it felt like the person didn’t give much thought to the gift. But now I appreciate them when I take stock of how few matching pairs of socks I have! 😊 I especially like the really soft, cozy socks my niece has given me.
I usually buy socks to wear with sneakers pretty much in the same pattern. That way I don’t have to worry about matching. Okay, the socks do have variation in color along the edge, but I don’t worry too much about that. I doubt that anyone pays much attend to my feet anyway. I may be wrong. :-/
Thanks for chiming in, L. Marie!
I love the reflection of your socks in the glass window of the hearth, Marian. Yes, socks give such a cozy feeling. A friend of mine sent us both a pair in Alpaca wool for Christmas a couple of years ago. While we usually spend our lives in hot climates, I really enjoy wearing these particular ones on chilly evenings inside the camper. They feel so nice. And, no we don’t plan to buy any gifts this holidays season, except for my family calendars.
Liesbet, I didn’t notice the reflection until you pointed it out. Thanks! 😀
I can’t imagine any socks more cozy than an Alpaca wool pair. And about your approach to gift giving: both economical and personal. I hope you and Thirsty Bella are reunited by Christmas. Yes?
It’s either mid-December or next year! Everything is closed and inoperative here after the 15th. So, not only have we been annoyed and stressed by all the delays, we now face the holiday season as well. Thirsty Bella was initially supposed to be here the end of November.
Well, now my hope is that it will arrive in good shape and you’ll have the patience to wait for it. Of course, you will. ((( )))
Marian — I enjoyed your sock photo story. I, too, love to give and receive socks. The more outlandish, the better!
Outlandish is the key word here, Laurie. Life’s too short for boring! 😀
Marian I wish I could insert the meme I saw yesterday. You will just have to imagine it. On the left hand is a label of “happiness.” On the right hand, the label “age.” The name of the graph is Socks as Gift, and the line charting happiness goes straight up as we age. Blessed Advent to you and Cliff.
Shirley, here’s one I found:
https://starecat.com/socks-as-a-gift-age-happiness-graph/
. . . and also this, about 4 photos down:
https://www.crazysocks.com/blogs/lets-talk-about-socks/socks-the-best-christmas-gift
Even corny memes can lift our spirits these days! 😀
Blessed season to you and Stuart!
It is interesting how Neruda’s poetry works even when translated to English (and I wonder if there are specific translators who are good at making poetry out of a translation. Anywho… this is about socks so yes, I love warm socks almost anytime of year. Ponchos are also great for flexible covering in the in-between weather. And we well know (husband and I) how much warm clothing is needed for the cold dips in winter in north Florida!
Thanks for mentioning ponchos, Melodie. I had a green Guatamalan poncho once, a gift from Betty, part of the couple who introduced me to Cliff. I’m sure I gave it away. But I still have a blue jacket with the Extreme Home Makeover insignia, a gift the a student who chauffeured Ty Pennington when he came to Jacksonville. I wear it outside on nippy days and indoors on chilly mornings in the house. 😀
That is a wonderful poem, a very sensuous experience in fact! My husband likes to give patterned socks as Christmas gifts. I’d have to say that my favorite winter socks are good, old-fashioned rag wool socks.
Liz, I can picture rag wool socks though I’ve never worn any. Apparently your husband is in vogue with giving socks as gifts. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem. Neruda is known for his sensuality in poem. Once I included his “tomato” poem in this post: https://marianbeaman.com/2013/09/04/ode-to-the-tomato/
Here also wrote a poem about corn. I think he has cornered the market on vegetable poetry. 😀
I enjoyed your tomato post.
Sweet of you to check, Liz. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Marian!
I’m sitting in my flannel pyjamas at the breakfast table, and yes, socks are on my feet. The temperature today is -30 degrees in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are in a deep freeze! I am thankful our new furnace has been installed as well!!
Elfrieda, I picture you cozy warm In Winnipeg, with no worries about your furnace going kaput in such frigid weather. Thanks for checking in this morning! 🙂
On another note—-my sister made a hassock for us a couple of years ago which needed some extra filling, so every time my socks get a hole in them, I stuff them into this hassock on which my socked feet can rest! I’m not mending them, mom, but not throwing them out either!
A hassock as a sock repository, a great way to re-purpose socks, which I loathe to mend, but have already. Thanks for adding to our chat with a novel idea, Elfrieda! 😀
I think socks make such a great gift. I have a nice collection, many gifts from friends. So not only do they keep my feet warm, they give me a warm feeling when I recall the friend who gave them to me. Love the socks you displayed here.
Darlene, I’ll bet the gift socks have bright designs. . . maybe even some with words. Thanks for letting us know. 😀
“…knit from threads of sunset”, that is such a sweet way of putting it. Socks are the more laughable of the classic Christmas gifts, and yet I would LOVE to receive socks! Especially novelty socks, or comfy slipper socks. I like yours, very colourful and perfect for book lovers. I struggle with the cold so I’ve come to really appreciate them all the more the last few years and there’s nothing better than snuggling up on an evening, comfy clothes, snuggly fluffy socks and a cuppa tea. Oh, and a blanket!
Here’s to socks! 🙌
Caz x
Welcome, and thanks for stopping by to chat, Caz! I hope other readers will enjoy the comfy scene you paint, wearing socks, warmed by a blanke and a cuppa tea. Do stop by again. 😀
My mother, Frances, and I were talking about socks just yesterday. And how important it was to know how to darn socks in the 1930’s. I am wearing my favourite socks as I write this comment. I have Mennonite Daughter already in my reader!!
What a timely comment, Rebecca. As it happens, quite a while ago I wrote a blog post about darning socks, a cost-saving measure my mother-in-law Viola used in the 1950s: https://marianbeaman.com/2021/02/17/darn-it-tale-tail/
I’m happy to hear that you are wearing your favourite socks with Mennonite Daughter in your reader. As you may know, the sequel, My Checkered Life, is scheduled to release in early 2023. Thanks for being such a loyal reader, so appreciated! 😀
It does not surprise me that socks are the most prized possession in a homeless shelter. It seldom dips below freezing in our county, but my wife passed on the sad news to me today that one of our local residents died from exposure. That should never happen.
I am a socks guy. As soon as I walk in the door, the shoes come off and I spend the day in my socks.
You probably live in a temperate climate. NE Florida is attractive also because though it’s hot in summer, the winters are usually mild. Still, some nights are very cold, and the homeless are welcome in shelters and rescue missions, which I contribute to regularly.
I’m glad you enjoy padding around in socks at home. And I hope you had a happy birthday celebration, Pete. 😀
I did know that socks are in short supply for homeless people. A few years ago a 10 y.o. girl in our neighborhood did a ‘sock drive’ asking all neighbors to contribute. I bought some for the drive, of course. I don’t know how many pairs she got, but such a kindhearted kid to make it her raison d’être– and inform us of the shortages.
That kindhearted little girl, probably a teen now, is going places–with her head and her heart. Thanks for sharing this sweet story, Ally! 😀
Hi Marian, this is such a jolly post and I love the poem you shared. I love socks and am always buying them. I have lots of colourful socks with pictures of all sorts of animals, birds, and plants all over them. I have given them as gifts at family gatherings before. One pair for each person.
Robbie, we have never met, but I picture you colorfully dressed, exuding happiness, and spreading joy. Thanks for your jolly comment in spite of recent challenges, my dear! 😀
Socks and flips are not a good match…I have a few pairs in a drawer somewhere that most likely will come out as I am given to walking now and trainers are better than flip flops so maybe sox will be on the present list again after a few years break…Love yours by the way , Marian 🙂
I have to remember that your seasons are the opposite of mine. I agree, flip-flops and socks don’t mesh very well. Thanks for tuning in; it’s always good to hear from you, Carol! 😀
Yes, they are, Marian and I like tuning in always interesting and enjoyable posts and the comments 🙂
Thanks, Carol! 😀
Love the sock poem Marian. And living where I do, couldn’t be without them. I love your colorful socks, but must tell you, they would certainly not be warm enough around here in winter, lol. I know they are great for Florida, but those would be spring/summer socks here, lol. <3
Agreed! Liesbet, who commented above, mentioned how warm and comfy Alpaca wool socks are in cold weather. I’ll bet your feet would stay warm in Toronto with these. Thanks for bringing your viewpoint into the conversation, Debby! 😀
I’ll bet too Marian. Thanks <3
Socks are so important in winter!
Indeed they are! I hope you and Bill are warm and toasty at your new address this season. Thanks, Joan! 😀
I wear wool socks all winter. Warm feet – happy heart. I love your selection of winter socks – mine are practical but quite boring!
Well, Arlene, winter for you is probably the length of summer in Florida–more than half the year. I don’t blame you for opting for practical socks. Wool socks sound warm and comfy. Thanks for chiming in here! 😀
What a delightful post, dear Marian. I’m giving a little person in my life some socks, clothes, and toys. The socks have the same theme as one of the toys he’s getting for Christmas.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Just like a good writer, using a theme extends to your gift-giving too. Thanks for chiming in here. Christmas blessings to you and your dear family. 😀