To welcome the New Year in the cold winter, buying a Christmas sweater is always a good idea: chunky knit snowflakes and reindeer bring blessings from Northern Europe, and paired with fluffy gloves, it's as if Santa Claus is already driving by with his sack of gifts.
This is the impression Christmas sweaters leave on people, but few know when they first became popular or what transformations they've undergone.
As early as 2011, Time magazine published an article recounting the history of Christmas sweaters, revealing that they appeared in the United States in the late 19th century. However, their true rise to prominence occurred in recent decades, during which several versions emerged, but Americans collectively called them "ugly sweaters." It turns out that foreigners have similar tastes in ugliness as the Chinese; they also find red and green clashing terribly.
Mid-20th century Christmas sweaters realistically depicted Christmas elements, featuring snowmen with carrot noses and green straw hats. The entire sweater was red, adorned with irregular and unrefined coral fleece snowflakes. Wearing such a garment and moving around made one look like a walking Christmas tree.
