Why new pyjamas?

[shrimponastick]

Reading through a few threads and many posters mention new pyjamas on Christmas Eve.

What is the tradition behind this??

I had never heard of it before.

[dementedma]

Dunno. We've never done it

[tassisssss]

I guess it's to look lovely in the Christmas Day present opening photos.

We don't do it either (but it seems most MNers do!)

[MeDented]

We have Pyjama elves that leave new pjs on the children's beds when we go out in the afternoon (usually to see a panto or Xmas movie at cinema). When they were little I liked them to have nice new pjs on for the Christmas morning photos because usually their normal pjs were 3/4 length and Mis-matched by then! Tradition just stuck and the children love it.

[PoppyScarer]

I started doing it after reading it on here.

Also my DD asked Father Christmas for pyjamas one year, as her main present, so it removed the pressure for the following day, because she already had what she wanted and the rest was then a nice surprise.

[October1st]

We always used to when the kids were young way before mumsnet was invented.I still do it for me!.It is lovely putting on new jammies or nightie on christmas eve and clean sheets and duvet cover too

[Dramajustfollowsme]

Mum used to do this. It was a bit of bribery. We were allowed to open one present on Christmas eve - our pyjamas. Then straight to bed. We carried it on into adulthood and used to have a pamper evening. It was great fun!

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Because Christmas is all about:
1.Celebrating the birth of Christ;
2.Eating too much;
3.Relaxing in brand new, accommodating (see point 2) clothing paid for by someone else.

Pjs can help date photos.

[WhereMyMilk]

We always have, for all the reasons above.

Also get popcorn and a new DVD to share.

And following Santa on NASA

And reindeer food.

Begins the magic...

[deemented]

When i was a kid it was so we looked half decent in the photos...

[JudeFawley]

We do it.

What was easy and cute when they were babies, has become more difficult, especially as I decreed they had to be white.

We have to have a photo of the children sitting in front of the tree on Christmas Eve, in new pyjamas.

Poor things.

[Marne]

We do pj's too but this year i have pushed the boat out and bought christmas jumpers from primark (just so we can laugh at the photo's when they are older).

[CherryMonster]

i have done this for years. my parents always used to let us open one present on christmas eve. i just carried this on when i had dc's but it was always pyjamas to wear to bed on christmas eve. this year will be the 13th year (ds1 will be 14 in march)

[AnitaBlake]

We've just always done it. I think it used to be about 'looking nice for Santa' which is a bit creepy thinking about it now lol.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Just because.

Though my DS usually has (very un-festive) skulls or insects or camoflague print ones (Primark).
DD has Festive Primark ones (but always does the "I'm really cold.My pyjamas aren't nice and warm Have I got any nice ^fleecy ones") so manages to get her pj s early - meaning that I have to buy a new pair for her

[picnicbasketcase]

I do it, but I'm not really sure why.

[AuntieShirley]

My parents used to do it for me, so we do it for dc now. We have always done it and dc would be pretty miffed if we suddenly stopped! We have new pj's and watch Muppet Christmas Carol with hot chocolate and popcorn before bed. Every year. Always.

[Catsmamma]

since mine are too old for new pjs I think i might start looking for shitty festive jumpers for everyone

what a hoot! :D

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Too old for new pyjamas Catsmama?

I am 39.
My mum still buys me PJs at Christmas. Usually ones with cute animals on them. Ok, I get that I'm only a whippersnapper , but at what age does one become too old for Christmas jammies?

[FredWorms]

It's ridiculous.

It's part of my Christmas now. Every year about this time I start getting cross about all the nutters with their Christmas Eve hampers and new pyjamas. Where will it all end?

How about a Christmas Eve-Eve hamper with, oh i dunno, a new cutlery set?

[FredWorms]

It seems so false, somehow, to me.

[AuntieShirley]

We don't have hampers or anything, nor is it left by fairies/elves/FC. It is just cosy new jammies and Muppets Christmas Carol. Cosy on a winters eve. I lurve new jim jams.

[moajab]

I started it one year because DS wanted to open a parcel on Christmas Eve, so I picked the one with new PJs because it was something nice, but not too exciting. He loved them and had never got ready for bed so quickly! So now we do it every year.
Another reason is that it was their Granny who had bought those first PJs. And by the following Christmas she had passed away. So it seems a way of remembering her at Christmas. We also read the Night before Christmas Book which she bought for them.

[FredWorms]

moajab, your pjs are allowed because of Granny. That's lovely.

Everyone else is bonkers. It's just another excuse to buy stuff.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

I'd never heard of Xmas pyjamas before MN / moving to the UK but it sounds like a lovely tradition and I think I'm going to start it for the DDs!

[halloweeneyqueeney]

cause they feel nice :-)

christmas eve sleep is supposed to be magical, so lovely bubble bath, into bed with fresh on sheets in new pjs and you're ready for christmas morning!

I always had new pjs and a new christmas day outfit as a kid

It probably originated as a bribary way to get the sodding kids INTO BED and away from picking at the presents so the parents could have a christmas eve drink and get the santa stuff done "oooo come on, you have your NEW THOMAS THE TANK PJS tonight"