Got An Ugly Sweater? You Can Get A Free Hot Chocolate!

Good news! Friday may not get above freezing, making it the perfect day to wear your ugly Christmas sweater. Additionally, Friday is Ugly Sweater Day. If that isn't enough reason to wear it, how about free Hot Chocolate?

First, let's define what an ugly Christmas sweater embodies.  Key characteristics of an ugly Christmas sweater include the following: Over-the-top decorations. Think of Christmas imagery like snowflakes, candy canes, Christmas trees, elves, presents, etc. They're often really large and excessively detailed. Second, Bright, clashing colors like red, green, gold, and white are used together, which can be overwhelming. It gets worse. The patterns and textures of the sweater appear chaotic or mismatched. Finally, the best ugly Christmas sweaters include embellishments like tinsel, sequins, or 3D elements that enhance the tacky aesthetic.

CNN.com says the ugly Christmas sweater has been around in one form or another since the 1950s. They were initially referred to as "Jingle Bell Sweaters" and weren't nearly as garish as the ones today are. They never really caught on, although crooner Andy Williams embraced the ugly side of them. They caught on in the 80s thanks to pop culture and comedies like "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," turning the sweater into an expression of cheer. The trend faded in the 90s, then re-emerged when Colin Firth's Mark Darcy horrified Bridget Jones by wearing one in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary." Since then, it's become a thing.

Ok, so what about the free Hot Chocolate?

Scooters Coffee is celebrating Ugly Sweater Day by giving away a free, small hot chocolate after 11:00 AM CST as long as customers pay or scan with Scooter's Coffee mobile app. Customers can also choose a small Candy Land-themed Mr. Mint Hot Chocolate. Additionally, the first 100 customers to any Scooters location after 11:00 AM CST will get a limited edition of the Scooters Holiday Sweater sticker.

Scooter's Coffee has locations in Sedalia, Warrensburg, Clinton, Camdenton, Blue Springs, Richmond, Osage Beach, and Oak Grove. They also have locations in Columbia and Boonville. Find the Scooter's Coffee closest to you on their website here.