National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day has grown to be an international event. Now occurring on the third Friday of December, the celebration gives holiday lovers worldwide a chance to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters. In 2014, they partnered with Save the Children in their “Make the World Better with a Sweater” campaign. You can now help children across the world by wearing an ugly sweater on December 18th and encouraging others to go online and donate.
Try these tips to take the prize on National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day:
- Animal or cartoon characters with a holiday theme are a great starting place. Think reindeer, snowmen, mice, kittens or elves.
- Select ridiculous colors. The more they clash, the better.
- Over-embellish! Pom-poms, bells, felt, tinsel or any other glittery, jingly items laying around the house.
- Add a collar, dickey or ruffle.
- Electrify it! Put Rudolph to shame and go to the head of the team with bright, flashing lights!
- Give it some 80’s flair with shoulder pads.
Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater. Use #UglyChristmasSweaterDay or #ChristmasSweaterDay to post on social media.
- National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day was started in 2011 by ugly Christmas sweater lovers as a way to lighten up the busy holidays and to show off their absurdly, ugly sweaters. The day has grown in popularity and is celebrated worldwide.
- Christmas Sweaters Once Went by a Different Name. Holiday sweaters were first manufactured on a grand scale sometime during the 1950s. Back then, they were actually produced under the name “Jingle Bell Sweaters” instead.
- The First Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Was Held in Vancouver, Canada. That’s right- The original party for unappealing Christmas sweaters traces back to Vancouver. In 2002, Commodore Ballroom hosted the party.
- Bears Are the Most Common Animal Found on These Jumpers. Sitting by the Christmas tree, riding on an open sleigh, or even just standing there holding presents, bears seem to be the animal of choice. They even beat out reindeer, which occupy the position of second place.
- A Business That Specializes in Goofy Christmas Sweaters Made an Appearance on the Show Shark Tank. San Diego-based duo Evan Mendelsohn and Nick Morton started the business Tipsy Elves in 2011. Their silly depictions on Christmas characters including Santa and the Bumble won over the heart and wallet of Shark Tank’s investor, Robert Herjavec. He offered $100,000 for 10% of the company. Mendelsohn and Morton accepted the offer which turned into one of Herjavec’s most profitable investments on the show.
- The actual mass-market ugly sweater reached its peak popularity sometime in the 1980s
- On Nordstrom.com, one ugly Christmas sweater goes for $600
- Colin Firth Wearing reindeer turtleneck sweater in the 2001 hit Bridget Jones’ Diary; Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; Val Doonican Who appeared in these type of the jumpers in their television Christmas specials.
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