Yahoo News Why ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ actually runs to a month for me
The first official Christmas Jumper Day was held on December 14, 2012.
Since then, millions of people have donned their most dashing festive sweaters for one day in December, in aid of Save the Children. I was wearing Christmas clobber even before this fantastic children’s charity fundraiser came into being – I’ve always loved Christmas and if that extends to socks with a Santa print or a scarf decorated with snowmen, I will happily wear the season as well.
My collection of Christmas attire has now extended to such a degree that I have sprout pyjamas, Christmas pudding pants and an array of tops, tunics and dresses that reflect the theme. There are also Rudolph and sprout earrings in the mix, and a couple of Santa hats, as well as a much-worn and much-admired one I hand-knitted in the style of a Christmas pud topped with holly.
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I’m arguably a bit old for all this Christmas dressing-up malarkey but, do you know what? It brings a smile to (most) people’s faces, and I don’t have to get up and think about what I’ll be wearing that day, for the whole of December. I just look to the Christmas end of my clothing rail or dip into the drawers jammed with fluffy, festive socks and jumpers to pull a suitably seasonal outfit together.
The Christmas jumper theme even extends to my crafting at this time of year. I’ve previously made tiny knitted sweaters to adorn Christmas cards or to use as tree decorations and it’s great fun baking and decorating Christmas jumper-shaped cookies.
Having been a home-based worker since Covid – how can that be almost four years – there has been more of an opportunity to let the festive dressing take over, when it wouldn’t have been seemly in the office, to the apparent (unless they are faking it) approval of my colleagues on our daily video conferences. One remarked last year that I was the human equivalent of an advent calendar … I rather like the idea of that.
Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day 2024 lands on Thursday, December 12, and is already being supported by stars including ex-Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Arlene Phillips, who reckon she digs out her jazziest jumpers and loves adding extra tinsel and sparkle to ones she already has in her wardrobe. Bridgerton star India Amarteifio said: “I always took part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day at school so I’m really excited to be supporting the campaign this year.”
This year, Shaun the Sheep, as the charity’s new Head of Wool, has taken on a new fleece of life in the hope of encouraging schools and youth groups up and down the country to sign up to take part and make the world better with a sweater.
For more details and how to sign up, visit christmasjumperday.org
