WATCH: The world-wide trend of celebrating ugly Christmas sweaters just might have started in BC. Elaine Yong has the story.
There are websites dedicated to those horrid family photos where everyone is wearing some sort of tacky, sparkly, bedazzled Christmas sweater.
Who would have thought those ugly sweaters would snowball into having a National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. The official ‘ugly’ day is today, Dec. 12 and it’s a phenomenon that’s swept the world — even sports teams are putting out their own versions.
But people may not be aware of how and who started this trend.
You can thank two long-time friends, Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch both from the Tri-cities area, who 13 years ago decided to throw the “best Christmas party ever.”
“It started off as a house party and now it’s an annual event at the Commodore Ballroom with a 1,000 people,” Boyd says.
“All the mayors have declared the day as official; even stores sell ugly Christmas sweaters.”
Their marquee Ugly Christmas Sweater party at the Commodore next Friday raises thousands of dollars for the Children’s Wish Foundation. Over the 13 years since they started the event, the co-founders have raised $100,000 for various charities and enough money for two wishes (at $20,000/each) for the wish foundation.
“We’re just happy it’s going to a good cause and not for profit,” Birch says.
“And we’re most proud of giving back and have the ugly sweater be an icon to do good.”
WATCH: Global News hears more from Vancouver’s annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party founders Jordan Birch and Chris Boyd.
~ with files from Elaine Yong
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