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It's time to get tacky! National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is today
Baby, it's cold outside, so it's time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, get some chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and dust off that unsightly sweater because it's National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!
Whether it has neon Christmas trees or a reindeer nose that lights up, the third Friday of December is the day to sport that ugly sweater to celebrate the holiday that only comes once a year. And in 2024, the holiday falls on December 20th.
Whether you're wearing it to a party for work or a white elephant gift exchange with friends and family, you can't really go wrong with wearing a tacky sweater.
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What is an ugly Christmas sweater?
An "ugly Christmas sweater" means exactly what you think it means: A terribly tacky or heinously hideous sweater designed with the Christmas spirit in mind.
Sometimes, the sweaters are so ugly they're cute, and other times, they're just horrendous. But it's totally fine because they're meant to look that way!
Sweaters can be filled with lights, bows, bells, whistles, and bright contrasting colors or your favorite Disney character. There is no wrong way to wear an ugly Christmas sweater.
How did the holiday start?
The holiday began in 2011, according to the National Day Calendar. It was made to "lighten up the busy holidays and to show off their absurdly ugly sweaters."
Today, 13 years after it began, the holiday is celebrated internationally.
Ugly sweater lovers try to outdo themselves and their loved ones with absurd sweaters each year.
Where to get an ugly Christmas sweater
Retail stores like Target, Hot Topic, Box Lunch, Walmart and more are selling their own ugly sweaters for the 2024 holiday season.
One of the many sweaters Target sells is a pullover with Snoopy wearing a puffer jacket or a red sweater covered in green and white Christmas trees.
While the Snoopy pullover is cute, it has nothing on this Box Lunch sweater. Its design features Disney Pixar Cars' Lightning McQueen. In the middle of the sweater and sleeves is a continuous banner with the animated car's catchphrase, "ka chow," written multiple times and accented with lightning bolts and snowflakes.
Depending on who you ask, they might describe that design as genuinely heinous.
Make an ugly DIY
Craft stores, like Michaels, might carry exactly what you need to create the most hideous sweater for the holiday function.
"Creating your own ugly Christmas sweater is an opportunity to craft something uniquely yours, turning a fun tradition into a personal expression of creativity and holiday spirit," said Michaels' senior project designer, Roma Stiff.
The craft retailer sells a Christmas DIY Ugly Sweater Accessory Pin kit for those looking for a quick, last-minute craft. It also offers an online class via YouTube.
So whatever you do this year, whether it be a holiday movie night or a Secret Santa party, you can always use the sweater to spread holiday cheer and make sure all who see it have smiles from ear to ear.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 2024: Here's how to celebrate
