National Ugly Sweater Day
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Overview
National Ugly Sweater Day is an annual celebration encouraging people to don their most garish, brightly colored, and often handmade festive sweaters. Typically observed in December, it's a lighthearted tradition embraced by offices, schools, and social gatherings to spread holiday cheer and often raise money for charity.
Origin and story
The trend of wearing "ugly" Christmas sweaters began in the 1980s, often seen as ironic fashion popularized by TV shows and movies.
The first official "Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" is often credited to a group in Vancouver, Canada, in 2002, helping to ignite the modern phenomenon.
Quick facts
- DateDecember 19
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
What's now a whole retail category started as an ironic joke: in the mid-2000s, young adults began raiding thrift stores and their parents' closets for garish 1980s-style holiday knitwear specifically because it was so unfashionable, and the wink-wink irony snowballed into an annual tradition of its own.
Throw an ugly sweater party
Set a contest for gaudiest sweater, add a white-elephant gift swap, and let guests vote on categories like "most lights" or "most tinsel."
Find the ugliest sweaters
- Tipsy Elves — known for over-the-top ugly sweaters, lights, and wild designs.
- Ugly Christmas Sweater Company — one of the original ugly sweater brands, with hundreds of styles.
Trace how the irony became a tradition
Helpful resources: Smithsonian Magazine traces the trend from earnest 1980s knitwear to deliberate kitsch in "A Brief History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater."
Did you know?
Many ugly sweater parties and events double as charity fundraisers, with guests donating an entry fee or bringing canned goods in exchange for wearing their loudest knitwear.
Fun facts
- The trend of wearing "ugly" Christmas sweaters began in the 1980s, often seen as ironic fashion popularized by TV shows and movies.
- The first official "Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" is often credited to a group in Vancouver, Canada, in 2002, helping to ignite the modern phenomenon.
- Many Ugly Sweater Day events are used as fundraisers for various charities, encouraging participants to donate while showcasing their festive attire.
- Guinness World Records has recognized attempts for the largest gathering of people wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, highlighting the global reach of the trend.
- Celebrities and public figures have also embraced the trend, further popularizing it and making it a staple of holiday celebrations.
- The sweaters are often characterized by excessive embellishments, such as tinsel, bells, oversized appliqués, and sometimes even working LED lights.
Sources and attribution
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National Ugly Sweater Day?
- It is observed on the third Friday of December each year.
- What is National Ugly Sweater Day?
- National Ugly Sweater Day is an annual celebration encouraging people to don their most garish, brightly colored, and often handmade festive sweaters. Typically observed in December, it's a lighthearted tradition embraced by offices, schools, and social gatherings to spread holiday cheer and often raise money for charity.
- How do people celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day?
- Throw an ugly sweater party with a contest for gaudiest sweater, shop specialty retailers like Tipsy Elves or the Ugly Christmas Sweater Company, and consider tying it to a charity fundraiser the way many ugly sweater events do.
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