Read This Dark Secret History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater

The ugly Christmas sweater - that gloriously garish, kitsch-filled holiday staple - has become as much a part of December as twinkling lights and overindulgent eggnog. What started as earnest festive knitwear has evolved into a beloved symbol of ironic fun, maximalist excess, and seasonal silliness.

The story begins in the 1950s, during the post-war boom when Christmas became increasingly commercialized. Families embraced hand-knitted or mass-produced wool sweaters adorned with modest holiday motifs: snowflakes, reindeer, Santa Claus, angels, and jingle bells. These early versions, often called 'Jingle Bell Sweaters', were meant to be charming and cozy - not ugly at all.

They gained modest visibility through television personalities and holiday specials, but remained relatively subdued and functional.

The true explosion of over-the-top designs happened in the 1980s, an era that celebrated bold colors, shoulder pads, and unapologetic extravagance. Christmas sweaters followed suit, becoming flashier with glitter, pom-poms, sequins, 3D elements, and clashing patterns.

Television played a huge role in cementing their status - Bill Cosby as Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984 - 1992) frequently wore eye-catching, patterned pullovers that became known as "Cosby sweaters.' Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) embodied holiday chaos in festive knitwear. In the UK, TV presenters like Gyles Brandreth and Timmy Mallett popularized elaborate Christmas jumpers during holiday broadcasts.

By the 1990s, the sweaters fell out of fashion and became symbols of outdated taste - something your embarrassing relative might wear. The 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary hilariously captured this cringe factor with Colin Firth's character in a notoriously tacky reindeer jumper.

The turning point came around 2002, when two friends in Vancouver, Canada (Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch), hosted what is widely regarded as the world's first ugly Christmas sweater party. What began as a small, ironic house gathering quickly spread across North America and beyond, transforming thrift-store finds into party must-haves.

The 2010s saw the trend explode into a global phenomenon. Sales skyrocketed (Amazon reported a 600% increase in 2011), high-fashion brands like Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, and Givenchy released their own luxurious (or ironically tacky) versions, and celebrities embraced the look.

Today, ugly Christmas sweaters are everywhere - from office parties and charity events (like the UK's annual Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children) to competitive contests and themed runs. Many feature lights, sound effects, pop culture references, or absurd humor.

And for classic festive cheer with Santa and snowmen

From humble post-war warmth to a worldwide celebration of deliberate bad taste, the ugly Christmas sweater proves that sometimes the tackiest things bring the most joy. Whether you thrift a vintage gem, DIY something outrageous, or buy a light-up monstrosity, it's all part of the holiday magic.