There are so many moments from yesterday’s inauguration ceremony and festivities that stand out: Kamala Harris sworn in as the first woman, first Black and first South Asian vice president ever; 22-year-old Amanda Gorman’s powerful recitation of her original composition, “The Hill We Climb”; and nearly 200,000 flags filling the National Mall, representing the thousands of people who could not attend due to the coronavirus pandemic and tight security in the nation's capital.
But there was another moment off-camera that has captivated audiences across the country ever since, especially here in New England: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders wearing a mask, beige parka and brown knit mittens, arms crossed, huddled against the cold in a folding chair made socially distant from other dignitaries.
According to NECN, Bernie’s mittens are made by Jen Ellis, a teacher from Essex Junction, Vermont. She made them for him more than two years ago — out of repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles — and was surprised to spot them on the senator, first on the campaign trail and then again at yesterday’s inauguration.
Here’s a social media roundup of all of the other (mostly imagined) places you might “spot” Bernie and his now-legendary, locally crafted mittens:
He’s waiting for his grandkids to get out of Newbury Comics pic.twitter.com/GnSkxW56QV
— Cole. (@losangelesbey) January 21, 2021
Bernie says "you CAN sit with us."#BernieSanders #InaugurationDay #berniesmittens pic.twitter.com/asfhdJCt2R
— Madeline Carl (@madeline__carl) January 20, 2021
I don’t know who created this, but it made me spit milk out of my nose......(which is weird, because I wasn’t drinking milk)#berniesmittens pic.twitter.com/qPRKwYlZpC
— Brad Sherwood (@TheBradSherwood) January 21, 2021
I am once again asking for some coffee. #berniesmittens pic.twitter.com/CDVFbnx0oo
— Heather Hill (@Tvini) January 21, 2021
— Buck Bewley (@BewleyBuck) January 21, 2021
Happy Wednesday #BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/whatYZHmA8
— G a b r i e l - I g l e s i a s (@fluffyguy) January 21, 2021
Bernie looked lonely so I gave him some F•R•I•E•N•D•S #Berniememe #berniemittens #BernieSandersmemes pic.twitter.com/UdfVcPA7YQ
— Tami (@bcre8uv) January 21, 2021
#berniesmittens takes on #thequeensgambit in a chess match for the ages. pic.twitter.com/CeU5fBcGWd
— Ellen Moorhouse (@EllenMftw) January 21, 2021
Whaddaya know, Bernie wore the same outfit back then! #BernieSandersMittens #berniemittens #BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/zNR52j0jQi
— Tim McDaunting (@TMcdaunting) January 20, 2021
Bernie Sanders, first of his name, Wearer of Mittens, Sitter of Chairs pic.twitter.com/1j6p8mrdlr
— Matthew Mucha (@mattymooch) January 20, 2021
Oh Bernie! I love YOU #berniesmittens pic.twitter.com/b9cjBv5aoX
— Bobby (@bobbyberk) January 21, 2021
This is the best one I’ve seen so far fwiw pic.twitter.com/kd3fOgyyCb
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2021
throwing my hat into the Bernie meme ring. #WheresBernie pic.twitter.com/1CSjSY4JjF
— Nagatha Christie (@snapvinylpop) January 21, 2021
“This could’ve been an email” pic.twitter.com/kn68z6eDhY
— Ashley K. (@AshleyKSmalls) January 20, 2021
Had to do it. pic.twitter.com/efrZazorGM
— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) January 21, 2021
Why do y’all play so much? Get Bernie down from there 😂 pic.twitter.com/9ik2VMSoGN
— EJ 🖤 (@thewrightej) January 20, 2021
There’s a lot of these and they are all cracking me up. ❤️ @BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/W3Wm6wEMFD
— Angela Kinsey🍩 (@AngelaKinsey) January 21, 2021