It’s the third of December, and as a chronic Conan Gray listener, today is not just any day; it’s “Heather” Day. Every year since the release of his song “Heather,” Gray’s fans have turned it into an annual tradition to receive a sweater from their love interest on Dec. 3. If you do not get a sweater today, then maybe you will have better luck if you eat 12 grapes before midnight on New Years.
“Heather” is a song our generation has grown to love and admire over the past few years, and with that comes traditions similar to any fan-loved song. A trend specific to Gray’s song “Heather” is giving or receiving a sweater from your partner on Dec. 3. This idea comes from the lyrics, “I still remember, third of December, me in your sweater.”
The simple act of giving a loved one your sweater was first mentioned in Gray’s song, and it was immediately turned into a phenomenon because of how simple but loving the task was. Many also believed that remembering something as simple as a date was a sign that their partner was there for them. However, many began to see fault in their partners when they forgot this simple day. They believed that since their partner could not remember a day when they could give a sweater, they would not be able to do other things in the future.
Some believe that receiving a sweater on Dec. 3 is a simple way for your partner to remember the little details that matter to you. Others think it is a stupid tradition that shouldn’t become normalized for couples, as it sets a new bar that needs to continue to be reached for every small detail.
There are even some who believe that if you do receive a sweater, you are not “Heather” but rather the “other person.”
The lyrics in his song, “I still remember third of December, me and your sweater,” indicate that the narrator, Gray, is the one who received the sweater first. However, the narrator is not Heather. This “narrator” had only borrowed the sweater, but Heather is the one who got to keep it.
Maybe it is best that you did not get that sweater. Nobody ever wants to be “the other woman.”
Because many people expect their partner to give them a sweater, when one isn’t received, it can cause a lot of unrest for some fans. They may believe that if their partner does not remember something as simple as a day, they will not be able to remember other meaningful things that could later impact their relationship. Putting so much pressure on one singular day because of a song could lead to other problems in a relationship.
Overall, when Gray was writing “Heather,” he shared his personal experience with receiving a loved one’s sweater. This experience has now gone on to become a worldwide tradition on Dec. 3. Whether you think this is just another dumb TikTok trend or not, showing the simple act of care and remembrance for a day that is special to someone is important for your relationship. Go get that sweater.
