Life is funny in the past neither Charlie or David would be caught dead wearing a ugly Christmas Sweater. Then this year Charlie let me know he didn’t have anything to war for Christmas and he would like a Ugly Sweater, PJs or a Shirt.
I went and purchase a #uglysweater for both David and Charlie. Before you ask, no I wasn’t able to get me a ugly sweater but I will get me one next year. I did get a couple Christmas T Shirts for me but they weren’t ugly T shirts although I couldn’t have minded having one or two. How about you? I also want I Want For Christmas Is a Hippo T Shirt. How about you?
Think back to the #clothes lurking in the murky depths of your wardrobe and you might find a colorful, brash and (in most cases) highly embarrassing novelty Christmas sweater which, were it not for National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, would probably never see the light of day.
Who knew that something so ugly could also be so beloved? Ridiculous little dogs with smushed faces? Fine! Hideous, but oh-so-comfortable shoes? Dandy! But ugly Christmas sweaters… No, never or at least that is what I used to say. How about you?
The English language doesn’t have a special word for something that’s both ugly and cherished, but other languages do. In Japanese a ugly Christmas sweater is known as Busakawa. In French, a ugly Christmas sweater is called jolie laide. And the idea is that there are some things in life that are so ugly, they’re beautiful.
National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is all about honoring those things that are so ugly that everyone loves them! Now, let’s go shopping and find the ugliest Christmas Sweater we can find and purchase extra sweaters for your friends and family.
History of National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Complete with fancy designs, the ugly sweater was often worn during these days by television personalities including Val Doonican and Andy Williams who brought festively decorated sweater designs into popularity, but they quickly slipped away again.
It took a few decades until the ugly sweaters made another surge and, in the 1980s, the ugly sweater became a bit of an iconic statement when worn by television and film fictional characters including Bill Huxtable (from The Cosby Show) and Clark Griswold (from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation). If you don’t remember those #sweaters then we need to have a #movienight and watch these movies together. I will bring the snacks.
Fading back into obscurity again in the 1990s, it wasn’t until 2001 when Bridget Jones’ Diary was released that things got even more interesting for ugly sweaters. Now its time for a #GirlsDay-In as we watch this movie.
Mark Darcy, the character played by Colin Firth in the film, sported a ridiculous Reindeer ugly sweater (called a “jumper” in this British flick) and that just may have been responsible for reviving the trend in the early 2000s. Whatever the reason, ugly sweaters came back around and have been more popular than ever.
Whether referring to vintage ugly sweaters that your grandma wore, or mass produced ugly sweaters that feature jokes from movies like A Christmas Story or Rudolph, or perhaps even something that has been custom decorated, Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is meant to celebrate them all!
Ugly Christmas Sweater Day was the brainchild of a couple of guys from Vancouver, Canada, who decided to use the idea of ugly sweaters as an opportunity to raise money for the Cancer treatment that a friend needed.
Since that time, the idea of ugly sweater parties and Ugly Christmas Sweater Day has been embraced in a variety of contexts and has created many donations for many different charitable causes. Its time we helped raise funds and host our own event. Would you want to join my family?
Officially proclaimed in 2012 by the Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is not simply an excuse to parade humiliatingly-unfashionable seasonal knitwear featuring Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman; it can also be a light-hearted and enjoyable fundraising event.
For those who want to celebrate National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, dig into that wardrobe and organize a day among friends and co-workers to assault the eyes of everyone around with the garish and uncomfortable designs of Christmas Sweaters!
Looking for ideas for some of the best ways to enjoy and celebrate Ugly Christmas Sweater Day? Check out some of these fun and festive plans for the day:
Of course, the business of National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is all about wearing the ugliest possible sweater or jumper possible on Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.
Grab a ugly Christmas Sweater out of grandpa’s closet, or find a ugly Christmas sweater in the bottom of a trunk of old clothes or borrow one from a friend.
Wherever the ugly sweater comes from, wearing an ugly holiday sweater is the most important part of celebrating National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Don’t forget to remind friends and coworkers in advance so that they can celebrate National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!
Sugar cookies are delicious and fun to decorate especially when you can secure a cookie cutter in the shape of a ugly Christmas sweater.
Just whip up a batch of Sugar Cookie Dough, cut the Cookies out, bake the Cookies and then let the Cookies cool. Use store bought Frosting or make Frosting ie Icing at home in a variety of colors. Remember the most fun part about National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is that they can be decorated in all sorts of silly and ridiculous ways in honor of Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!
Did you know one of the best ways to enjoy Ugly Christmas Sweater Day and to win an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day Contest is by making sure there are no other sweaters in the world exactly like yours! Pick out a marginally ugly sweater and then make it even uglier by adding tacky, hideous, and horrid items to it.
Here is themes you can use when creating your Ugly Christmas Sweater:
Tinseltown: One of the most fun and glitzy ways to decorate an ugly sweater is to cover it in shiny tinsel, whether glued or sewn on. Just for fun, add a giant red stocking to the back.
Christmas Tree Theme: Choose a green sweater for a base and then decorate it with all sorts of old Christmas baubles and ornaments.
Starbucks Holiday Coffee Cups: Make a splash in coffee decor by cutting a few takeaway Starbucks holiday themed cups (complete with lids) in half and gluing them all over an old sweater.
Ugly Mitten Sweater: Wintertime is the perfect time for Ugly Christmas Sweater Day! Make the most of it by using mismatched pairs of old gloves and sewing them on to a sweater or sweatshirt. Then add different items coming out of them, like flowers or small stuffed animals.
Did you know some people spend the entire calendar year pounding the pavement of the thrift stores and yard sales to find the absolutely perfect ugly sweater to wear in celebration and remember its never to early to start looking.
For those who aren’t invested as early in the year, it’s still possible to get a variety of different options in the weeks leading up to Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Check out holiday deals as they come up before Christmas, or look into sellers who might be offering options to purchase ugly sweaters in their online shops.
Of course, buying a pre-decorated sweater off the rack is also possible, beginning around October and lasting through the end of the year. Even better, picking one up on sale in January can save some money and hassle for when Ugly Sweater Day comes around again.
Now, I would like to share a fun activity for Ugly Christmas Sweater Day organize an Ugly Sweater Auction. Invite everyone to wear their worst sweaters, and then other people can bid to have them take them off. It’s amazing what people will pay to stop a grisly assault on their eyes!
For the trolls in the audience, the rules can include a counterbid by people seeking to have the sweaters remain, with the hope of continuing to torment friends and co-workers for the rest of National Ugly Sweater Day
Alternatively, if a creative group of people has the skills to produce a sweater, it is always possible to organize an actual auction early in the Christmas season. People will bring their own holiday designs, auction them off in a silent auction, and donate the proceeds to a charity of choice. The winners can then sport their newly-acquired ugly items at their next holiday event. It’s a win-win!
Some folks may be wondering exactly what constitutes “ugly” when it comes to National Ugly Sweater Day. The good news is that almost anything goes on National Ugly Sweater Day that is intentionally meant to offend both good taste and common sense!
For those who are creatively inspired, it’s easy to start with something basic (like a red sweatshirt) and turn it into a glorious display of festive hideousness. Remember your crafting skill level doesn’t have to be great all you need to do is have fun.
With a hot glue gun and some simple craft supplies, even the most boring, non-festive shirts can become an enviable work of awful (and awe-inspiring!) art. Glitter and sequins can always be counted on to add that special touch.
Or take it to another level with a battery-powered, light-up garment (say, Rudolph’s famous red nose) that offers a leg-up on the competition. Some ugly sweater events are judged on more than just the merits of the individual sweater. Adding a bit more pizzazz to the outfit, including a Santa hat or Reindeer antlers, can transform a marginally ugly pullover into a dazzling display of merry-nes
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
