It’s a little ironic that something claimed to be “ugly” is so popular. Yet, the ugly holiday sweaters are back again. Over-sized, 3-D Santa, Christmas tree and cat sweaters aren’t usually considered fashionable, but the so-called ugly holiday sweaters have proven to be a fad for more than a decade.
The trend has become so popular that National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day was founded in 2011. It is celebrated on the second Friday of December. This year, the national holiday falls on Friday, Dec. 12.  The day is all about sporting your favorite ugly holiday sweater for the entire day and “making the holidays fun” (nationaluglychristmasweaterday.org).
The large, patterned sweaters haven’t always been thought of as ugly and distasteful, however. In the eighties, they were considered cute and festive. It wasn’t until the late eighties when Chevy Chase, while playing Clark Griswold in “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation,” created a mockery of the sweaters that the sweaters became sarcastic (inventors.about.com).

According to Time Magazine, the sweaters may have made a reappearance by young people making fun of their parents, who thought the sweaters were cute.
Mara Bertog, UW-L junior, said she always thought the sweaters were popular and remembers her parents going to ugly Christmas sweater parties for their work or friends.
Bertog thinks the ugly sweater trend started when people realized how outdated some clothing is.
“Our perception of ugly is always changing,” Bertog said.
On the other hand, Jason Fell, managing editor of Entreprenuer.com, offered that the attire gives people a chance to “let their guard down” (thewire.com).
Bertog agreed with this and said ugly sweaters are a great way to be yourself and not worry about how you look.
“I think people probably enjoy not having to look pretty or put together for one night,” said Bertog.
Whether it’s ironic humor or nostalgia, the sweaters are back and booming.
Goodwill and other thrift stores are flourishing as young folks and adults alike are scavenging for these eighties sweaters.
Many have been buying sweaters from thrift stores and selling them on eBay for profit.
The sweaters have found their way into high fashion, as well, and can be found in stores such as H&M and Nordstrom.
No one can be sure who started the ugly holiday sweater trend, but one couple claims to have given birth to the ugly sweater parties that have, also, become quite popular in return. Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch are co-founders of the Commodore Ballroom’s annual ugly sweater party in Vancouver, British Columbia, where it is claimed to be the birthplace of the first ugly sweater party in 2002. The two have even trademarked the words “ugly Christmas sweater” and “ugly Christmas sweater party” in Canada.
According to Brian Miller, Adam Paulson and Kevin Wool, authors of “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On,” the world will never be sure who held the first ugly sweater party, either.