Move Over Man Buns, Jingle Beards Are Back!
Our long national nightmare is over.
Like all fads, the clip-on man bun has gone the way of the pet rock, Rubik's Cube, and Iggy Azalea, and will only be referenced again when VH-1 does their inevitable I Love The '10s! retrospective.
That chapter of hirsute history may be closed, but thankfully a more festive celebration is underway, with the return of the annual tradition known as Jingle Beards.
* According to legend, back in 1902 a blizzard hit the east coast of the United States, trapping people in their homes for weeks. The small lumberjack mountain community of Van Dyke was hit especially hard, with most of the inhabitants waiting out the storm in the town hall, as their food and resources were quickly depleted.
Facing starvation, a plan was hatched to hike down the mountain in the hopes of reaching the nearest city, but with the storm still raging and visibility at zero, they needed a way to keep the citizens together while they made their perilous trek.
It was decided that the Christmas tree would be stripped, and the men would adorn their beards with its bells and baubles, providing a crucial beacon in the storm should anyone become separated from the group. It worked, as the mountain path became a living sleigh bell, and all of the citizens safely reached the warm glow of the city, in time to celebrate Christmas morning.
Thus began the tradition of Jingle Beards.
The UK site Beard Baubles sells the festive accessories, with all proceeds going to skin cancer research, but they've also put out this helpful DIY video.
Last year Samsung commercialized it, adding even more bells and whistles.
Of course, some people have taken it to an extreme.
While some like to keep it simple.
But the spirit of the season is still heard loud and clear, like that beacon through the storm over a century ago.
* May not be true
