Count Your Buttons Day

October 21 is Count Your Buttons Day, a fun holiday that celebrates one of the most common yet often overlooked clothing accessories. Buttons come in countless shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, and they have been used for both practical and decorative purposes for thousands of years. Whether you enjoy sewing, collecting vintage buttons, or simply appreciate fashion, this is the perfect day to give buttons a little extra attention.

History of Count Your Buttons Day

The exact origins of Count Your Buttons Day are unknown, but it is thought to have been created by someone with an appreciation for buttons or button collecting. Decorative buttons have existed for thousands of years, although they were originally used as ornaments rather than fasteners. Functional buttons paired with buttonholes became popular in Europe during the 13th century, especially in Germany, and soon spread throughout the continent.

During the Industrial Revolution, button manufacturing became increasingly mechanized, making buttons affordable and widely available. Today, buttons are produced in a variety of materials, including plastic, wood, metal, shell, and glass, and they remain both practical fasteners and fashionable design elements.

Interesting Facts About Count Your Buttons Day

• Button collecting is known as fibulanophily, and collectors are called fibulanophilists.
• Buttons have been made from shell, bone, wood, ivory, metal, glass, and plastic throughout history.
• Before plastic became common, many high-quality buttons were carved from mother-of-pearl.
• Vintage and antique buttons are popular collectibles and can be surprisingly valuable.

How to Take Part in Count Your Buttons Day

Celebrate by counting the buttons on your favorite clothes or seeing how many you can find throughout your home. Learn about the history of button making, start a small button collection, or use decorative buttons in a craft project. If you enjoy baking, decorate cookies or cupcakes with colorful button-inspired designs and share your creations with family and friends.

When Is Count Your Buttons Day in 2026?

Count Your Buttons Day is observed annually on October 21.

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