CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ugly Christmas sweaters have become a staple of the holiday season, but there's more to these tacky garments than meets the eye.
Friday, Dec. 15 is National Ugly Sweater Day, and you can thank your great-aunt Edna for making it such a big trend that's stood the test of time. Let's connect the dots.
Ugly sweaters have been around for a long time and likely have an accidental origin. Experts say back when people used to knit sweaters, they probably created the ugly trend by accident.
The trend got even more popular when Cliff Huxtable sported the offbeat sweaters on "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s. Fast forward to the 21st century and we can actually thank Vancouver for the rise of so-called "ugly sweater parties."
Two guys in Canada started the sweater soirees and it quickly took off. The first event was such a hit that parties featuring ugly holiday threads started popping up all over North America.
Eventually, being ugly turned into a sport. So every third Friday in December, we celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.