Happy National Zipper Day from the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve!

Here at the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve, we believe in celebrating all things unusual, and what's more peculiar than the humble zipper? Today, on National Zipper Day, we take a moment to appreciate this ingenious invention and its strange, serpentine connection to the world of folklore!

Zipping Through History

The zipper's history is surprisingly long and winding, much like its metal teeth. While the zipper we know today was patented by Whitcomb Judson in 1893, there have been numerous attempts to create a fastening mechanism throughout history. Early versions date back to ancient Greece and Rome, often using interlocking clasps or hooks and eyes. Legends say even Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and metalworking, crafted a magical golden belt that could zip itself closed, containing the monstrous Typhon within a volcano!

Snakes & Secrets

The word "zipper" itself is thought to derive from the way the fastener resembles the back of a snake. Snakes, of course, have long been associated with mystery, transformation, and the hidden world. In some cultures, they are seen as guardians of secrets, while in others they represent primal forces or gateways to other realms. Here at the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve, we've even had whispers of serpentine creatures with zipper-like scales slithering through the swamps around the preserve (though, admittedly, we haven't been able to snag one for study...yet!).

So, the next time you zip up your jacket or purse, take a moment to appreciate the ingenuity and hidden history of this fascinating invention. And who knows, maybe there's a bit more mystery to the zipper than meets the eye!

Looking for more zipper fun? Check out these resources:

• The History of the Zipper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipper

• The Symbolism of Snakes in Mythology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_symbolism