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National Ugly Sweater Day

Dress your best (or worst!) for National Ugly Sweater Day - get creative and have some fun with funky patterns, bright colors, and outrageous accessories!
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Category
Fun
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Country
United States
Introduction

Get ready to show off your ugliest sweaters and celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day on the third Friday in December! This fun holiday has been around since 2011, when it was created to encourage people to embrace their unique style and let their creativity shine through. Whether you want to wear a vintage piece that's been passed down for generations or something new-yet-hideous, this is the perfect day to make a fashion statement. So get ready for some laughs and smiles on National Ugly Sweater Day – you'll be sure to stand out from the crowd!

History of National Ugly Sweater Day

National Ugly Sweater Day Dates

National Ugly Sweater Day Timeline

<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2002</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Ugly Sweater Parties Begin</div><div class='timeline-text'>The "ugly sweater party" trend takes root in Vancouver, Canada, as a clever excuse to clean out the wardrobe.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2007</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>TV Helps Popularize Trend</div><div class='timeline-text'>The trend spreads to the United States with episodes of popular TV shows like "The Office" featuring ugly holiday sweater parties.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Retailers Get Involved</div><div class='timeline-text'>Major retailers like Nordstrom, Forever 21, and Wal-Mart begin selling new "ugly" holiday sweaters.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2011</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Inception of National Ugly Sweater Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Ugly Sweater Day is officially acknowledged in the United States, to be celebrated on the third Friday in December.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2014</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Google Celebrates With Doodle</div><div class='timeline-text'>Google honours National Ugly Sweater Day with a fun, interactive doodle on its homepage.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Ugly Sweaters for a Cause</div><div class='timeline-text'>Mark Rober, former NASA engineer, creates a line of ugly holiday sweaters that also double as mobile games, with proceeds going to charity.</div></div></div>

How to Celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day

<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host an ugly sweater party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite your friends to dress up in their ugliest sweaters and join in the fun.  Have a contest for the ugliest sweater and the best dressed, with prizes for the winners.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Shop for an ugly sweater</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Check out your local thrift stores for ugly sweaters.  There are sure to be plenty of options, from sparkly sequins to gaudy holiday prints.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Craft an ugly sweater</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and craft your own ugly sweater.  Raid your local craft store or dollar store for materials like fabric paint, pom poms, ribbons, and glitter.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize an ugly sweater 5K</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite your friends and family to join you in running a 5K in their ugliest sweaters.  Have a post race celebration with snacks, music, and prizes.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Hold an ugly sweater contest</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your friends together and have a virtual or in person ugly sweater contest.  Let everyone vote on the ugliest, most outrageous, and funniest sweaters.</p></div></div>

Why We Love National Ugly Sweater Day

<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Ugly sweaters are fun and quirky</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Ugly sweaters can be the perfect way to show your unique and quirky style. With their bright colors, wild patterns, and sometimes ridiculous designs, they're definitely something that can't be missed! They also act as great conversation starters and make for excellent holiday party outfits.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Ugly sweaters bring people together</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>There's nothing like wearing an ugly sweater to a holiday gathering to get people talking and laughing. Wearing an ugly sweater is sure to draw plenty of attention and ensure you always feel like you fit in, no matter what else is going on around you.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Ugly sweaters are timeless</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The beauty of ugly sweaters is that they never go out of style. Even if they may look a little dated this year, chances are they'll be making a comeback next year - or even the next one after that! So embrace your inner fashionista (or anti-fashionista) and stock up on those festive knits - they won't let you down!</p></div></div>

5 Unraveled Facts about National Ugly Sweater Day

<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>First Ugly Christmas Sweater Party was Held in 2002</h3><p class='facts-content'>The concept of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party is barely two decades old, with the first known event of this kind taking place in Vancouver, Canada.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Ugly Sweater Retail Sales Have Been Booming</h3><p class='facts-content'>As the trend has grown, so have sales, with many retailers reporting substantial upticks in ugly sweater purchases around the holiday season each year.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>"Tacky" Designs Are Often Sought After</h3><p class='facts-content'>The golden rule of ugly sweater design appears to be: the tackier, the better. Bright colors, eccentric patterns, and outlandish embellishments are all fair game and actively sought after by shoppers.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There's a World Record for Wearing Ugly Sweaters</h3><p class='facts-content'>The current Guinness World Record for the most people wearing holiday sweaters was set in 2015 by 3,473 participants at the Kansas Athletics vs Montana men's basketball game in Lawrence, Kansas.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Celebrities are Sporting Ugly Sweaters too</h3><p class='facts-content'>Numerous celebrities have been spotted partaking in the craze, wearing ugly sweaters on TV shows, at parties, and in social media posts - confirming ugly sweaters are a trend not just limited to the common folk.</p></div></div>

National Ugly Sweater Day FAQs

When is National Ugly Sweater Day?

National Ugly Sweater Day Dates

Year
Date
Day

2023

Dec 15

Friday

2024

Dec 20

Friday

2025

Dec 19

Friday

2026

Dec 18

Friday

2027

Dec 17

Friday

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