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Ugly Christmas Sweater Day: Origins, History & Some Iconic Looks

Do you know where this peculiar tradition comes from?

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Happy Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 2024! The holiday season you might find yourself heading to the school or office dressed in one of those Christmas sweaters. Some call them ‘ugly,’ while others appreciate them. But do you know where this unusual tradition comes from?

The concept of Ugly Christmas Sweater Day originated in San Diego, California, but it’s also observed in Canada. In recent years, wearing woolen sweaters adorned with reindeer, fir trees, Santa Claus faces, and other Christmas-themed motifs has become quite popular. 

Demi Lovato / Manny Hernandez.

‘Ugly’ Christmas Sweater Origins

To trace its origins, we need to rewind to 2011 when a group of students at the University of San Diego decided to create a rather unique website. Their goal? Collecting images of the most comically unattractive Christmas-themed sweaters they could find all across the United States. What started as a bit of fun quickly gained widespread attention, and within days, well-known figures from the world of entertainment and television joined in. They proudly showed off their most hilariously outrageous sweaters during prime time. 

One Direction / NBC.

However, it’s interesting to note that in the 1980s, comedian Bill Cosby had already dared to wear such sweaters on his television show, The Cosby Show. He kickstarted a trend that would later be embraced by Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. So, some argue that Cosby, from Philadelphia, was the true pioneer of Ugly Sweater Day, and the students from San Diego simply carried on his legacy. 

Regardless of its origins, by 2023, Ugly Christmas Sweater Day has become a worldwide phenomenon. It’s celebrated every year on the third Friday of December and has grown so influential that there’s now an organization dedicated to promoting it here, in the United States: The National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day Organization. This organization also sets the criteria for what qualifies as an ‘ugly’ Christmas sweater. 

Miley Cyrus. / Santiago Felipe.

According to them, to participate in Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, you just need to meet three simple requirements: 

  • Have an unattractive Christmas sweater. 
  • Wear it proudly throughout the entire day. 
  • Share the joy of Ugly Christmas Sweater Day with friends and colleagues. 
Meghan Trainor / NBC.

Celebrities Iconic Looks

Since the rise of Ugly Christmas Sweater Day in 2011, countless celebrities from various fields have embraced the trend of wearing Christmas-themed sweaters. They do so not only on the main day of this celebration but also on various other significant occasions throughout the holiday season. Some have displayed their Christmas sweaters on television programs, while others have worn them for festive dinners with friends. A few have even taken to the stage while proudly sporting these quirky garments. 

Original article in Spanish by Carolina Martínez for LOS40.