A Holiday of Sweater Vests

Want to delight friends, co-workers, and complete strangers? A new holiday beckons. It's happening tomorrow, and anyone can participate. Here's the info from the Facebook event notice:

On Friday, Dec. 5, the world will celebrate Vestival, the annual celebration of solidarity and sartorial splendor that is expressed through the collective wearing of sweater vests.

This year marks the second annual Festival of Sweater Vests, and for the uninitiated, here are the rules: The sweater vestival is a day of sweater vests. We accept wool, mohair, cashmere, acrylic, rayon, orlon, cotton, and other sweater-like materials. Fleece, Goretex and other space-age materials that wick away moisture and come with lots of little pockets, pull-strings and "features" do not count as sweater vests -- even if they have no sleeves and are otherwise vest-like. We discriminate against non-sweater vests and those who do not participate will be ostracized! You will be forced to stand in the vestibule!

Last year, skeptics who didn’t participate, either out of negligence or conscientious objection, felt shame and desperation. An anonymous executive at Bridgespan reportedly burst from his office -- argyle sweater in one hand, scissors in the other. At one point during Vestival, four Globe employees were at the local Salvation Army searching for vests.

To clarify: this is both not a joke, and also funny.

There is ample time to get a vest. So don't get fleeced. Dig out those sweater vests. Feel the tingle! Take a photo of you and your fellow vestwearers at 4:30 pm, FRIDAY DEC. 5, and then share your vestiness with THE WORLD.

There's more information, not that you really need any, at this handy Boston Globe Q&A.

(Photo by Heather Watts)