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Original poster

To think the biggest difference between family Christmas' is whether you dress up or not

141 replies

Namechange234567 · 13/12/2025 08:42

This is a light-hearted one after some frankly depressing threads this morning!

But after having a few blended Christmas' now the biggest difference doesn't seem to be when you eat, whether you have turkey or not, if you have alcohol from 6am onwards but whether you dress up. My family is firmly in the pyjamas from Christmas Eve to boxing day camp, we might throw on some different leggings to go for a walk, but hey we're wearing big coats so is it really needed?! But we then go to some houses and suddenly everyone is super fancy, wearing heels inside the house and maybe even changing again for dinner.

I feel like all Christmas invitations should come with a dress code!

YABU = No clearly there's something else to watch out for with a Christmas invite because other families are crazy
YANBU = I've also been incorrectly dressed at another family's Christmas

OP posts:
CandidOchreShark · 14/12/2025 12:51

I'm in the "you do you" camp. I like dressing up and do. DH in pyjamas camp so he does. Extended family who come christmas day and our own DDs love it as with 2 extremes anything goes!
😊

maddiemookins16mum · 14/12/2025 12:37

Back in the day, we always dressed up (if dressing up extends to my Sunday best essentially). Now I put on some nice jeans and a Christmas jumper.

Sidebeforeself · 14/12/2025 12:28

RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazy · 14/12/2025 12:18

I’m not. To question where the joys are if you don’t dress up for Christmas, which is what you did, is to imply people don’t have any. There are loads of things to find joy in, so why question it?

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Merry Christmas

NormasArse · 14/12/2025 12:23

Up, dog walk in scruffs. Shower, and nice casual clothes.

Pyjamas in the daytime make me feel tired!

RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazy · 14/12/2025 12:18

Sidebeforeself · 14/12/2025 11:28

You are nit picking. It means its part of life’s joys not the only thing.

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I’m not. To question where the joys are if you don’t dress up for Christmas, which is what you did, is to imply people don’t have any. There are loads of things to find joy in, so why question it?

MamaGrinch · 14/12/2025 12:15

I’m in the pj’s camp definitely

Sidebeforeself · 14/12/2025 11:28

RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazy · 14/12/2025 01:04

You said:

‘Aw if you don’t dress up for Christmas Day where’s the joy in life?!’

Well, erm, in lots of other things for many other people.

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You are nit picking. It means its part of life’s joys not the only thing.

RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazy · 14/12/2025 01:04

Sidebeforeself · 13/12/2025 15:40

I didn’t say it was the only joy in life.

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You said:

‘Aw if you don’t dress up for Christmas Day where’s the joy in life?!’

Well, erm, in lots of other things for many other people.

Netcurtainnelly · 14/12/2025 00:23

Jeans, are not comfortable.
If the house is warm you dont need to get all dressed up in jumpers etc, you end up getting all hot anyway.

You need to feel comfortable on xmas day especially if your eating Christmas dinner too.
I've heard it all now a colored dress code for the day.
Why do you need to.put pressure on people and try and control things
That is what a dress code is. Just let people where what they want too.

Original poster
Namechange234567 · 13/12/2025 22:21

Monvelo · 13/12/2025 15:21

I can't stand or understand PJ's in the day! Do you wear them with underwear?! Do you keep them on when you go to sleep, or change into different PJ's?! If it's between 9am and 9pm and I'm in PJ's I just feel yucky.

Equally I think heels of any sort should be blasted off the face of the planet. Why would you wear them anywhere let alone in the house!

I never knew I had that strong feelings... We do Christmas jumpers and jeans/leggings/whatever :)

Sorry forgot to answer the other frequent question about underwear and how long!

So everyone still showers, but not necessarily first thing but in dribs and drabs through the day. Putting on clean PJs/lounging about leggings after. And I always wear underwear with my PJs! There was another thread on that recently, I can't remember the divide it ended up with but there was definitely people in both camps

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechange234567 · 13/12/2025 22:18

So it seems there's definitely more people in the dress up bucket!

Couple of bits to answer...

We're a very spread out family so when I say we're at other people's houses or they're at ours it's always a minimum of arriving on Christmas Eve leaving the day after boxing day not leaving our house at midday to pop to someone else's. In those situations I've come down in leggings and a Christmas jumper and everyone else is super fancy or they've stayed at ours and arrived downstairs suited and booted for breakfast.

And for those asking where the joy is if you can't dress up, we just have different things bringing us joy! I hate dressing up, it reminds me of being a child in uncomfortable clothes I can't get comfy in! PJs all day brings me joy!

OP posts:
Georgieeeh · 13/12/2025 15:41

Heels?! Ridiculous

Sidebeforeself · 13/12/2025 15:40

RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazy · 13/12/2025 14:14

Some people get the chance to dress up throughout the year with various events, parties, work stuff, so for those people, not dressing up can be something which is nice. Also not everyone gets joy from dressing up or from Xmas. Some people would think it’s quite sad that the only joy in life is dressing up for Xmas.

It always amazes me that people have got to adulthood without realising that people are different and get joy from different things. If it makes you happy to dress up, that’s fine, but to question where other people’s joy is in life if they don’t do the same as you is just silly.

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I didn’t say it was the only joy in life.

ClassicBBQ · 13/12/2025 15:39

As a child we used to dress smartly from the 23rd to 27th. I absolutely loved it and have carried on the tradition with my own DCs. I'd feel so scruffy in pyjamas for days.

TroubledBloodyMary · 13/12/2025 15:37

deluxeducks · 13/12/2025 15:00

It would never occur to me to wear pyjamas to someone else's home for a visit. My family isn't very formal, and few of us really dress up for Christmas gatherings, but there are no pyjamas to be seen.

Even if I am home alone, I don't see the appeal of pyjamas all day, unless ill. They get in the way of moving around or doing some of my hobbies, never mind things like cooking or cleaning. That said, my daily wear around the house is very casual, comfy loungewear, which isn't much 'dressier' than pjs, really.

I’m really curious about where on the thread you saw it suggested that people should wear pyjamas to visit someone else’s home?

Monvelo · 13/12/2025 15:21

I can't stand or understand PJ's in the day! Do you wear them with underwear?! Do you keep them on when you go to sleep, or change into different PJ's?! If it's between 9am and 9pm and I'm in PJ's I just feel yucky.

Equally I think heels of any sort should be blasted off the face of the planet. Why would you wear them anywhere let alone in the house!

I never knew I had that strong feelings... We do Christmas jumpers and jeans/leggings/whatever :)

thefamous5 · 13/12/2025 15:13

We have a relaxed dress on xmas.

The males will usually be in jeans and xmas jumper. My mym used to wear legging and xmas junper but has recently found she's more comfortable in dresses ans and has been bought some nice jumper dresses from my dad for xmas so no doubt she will wear on of those. My daughter has a pretty christmas dress but comfortable enough for her to play and run around in. I have a red pleated midi skirt (with an elasticated waist- win!) With a black tshirt - although will take xmas jumpers for the family xmas jumper pic!

boxofbuttons · 13/12/2025 15:11

We're a pyjamas/loungewear family - occasionally on years where we had someone else for Christmas dinner (like one year an elderly family friend/neighbour came for dinner) we'd get properly dressed for the food but otherwise it's putting your brand new Christmas pyjamas on in the morning and being comfy/cosy in front of the fire all day.

It looks lovely when people all dress up! But it's not for us: Christmas day is 4 or 5 of us maximum, squished into my mum's tiny living room. It's always been a day for us to chill - no going out for a walk/to a pub/to church/to visit people - and the idea of getting specifically dressed up to sit in my mum's living room feels very silly.

deluxeducks · 13/12/2025 15:00

It would never occur to me to wear pyjamas to someone else's home for a visit. My family isn't very formal, and few of us really dress up for Christmas gatherings, but there are no pyjamas to be seen.

Even if I am home alone, I don't see the appeal of pyjamas all day, unless ill. They get in the way of moving around or doing some of my hobbies, never mind things like cooking or cleaning. That said, my daily wear around the house is very casual, comfy loungewear, which isn't much 'dressier' than pjs, really.

purser25 · 13/12/2025 14:34

Would find it hard to cook a Christmas dinner in pyjamas

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 13/12/2025 14:28

blythet · 13/12/2025 14:22

I love a pj day but would always have a shower and put on fresh ones. It’s the best feeling ever!

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The best feeling ever for me is shower dress in clothes that make me look nice in and I’m comfortable in, I want to feel I look good as well as comfort. And spending the day in my pyjamas doesn’t do that.

Zigazigarrr · 13/12/2025 14:27

My work means I have to constantly put on a "front" because of a) what I do and b) places I have to be to encompass all aspects of the job. This means that I don't have to do "dressy" to feel special. The thing that makes it all "special" for me is just having my family with me, and if that's PJ's (with a bra), that's PJ's with a bra. Clearly if we have anyone else in the house, more effort is made. But that's what it is. Effort. I do enough of that all year.

blythet · 13/12/2025 14:22

Prelim · 13/12/2025 09:22

I’ve never worn pyjamas during the day (possibly because I wear a nightie to bed and I’d be cold). I don’t really understand the point. You’d have a shower and then put new pyjamas on, or the old ones you’ve just worn to bed? If you’re putting ones on, you might as well put proper clothes on.

I like dressing up for Christmas, don’t often get the chance to wear a sparkly frock these days!

I love a pj day but would always have a shower and put on fresh ones. It’s the best feeling ever!

StrawberrySquash · 13/12/2025 14:21

Macaroni46 · 13/12/2025 09:10

Not the point but those of you wearing jeans on Christmas Day, aren’t they uncomfortable after all the food?

I don't buy particularly tight jeans, but no. It's funny how jeans have gone from slobbing about wear to semi-formal and considered uncomfortable over the last couple of decades.

PurpleFlower1983 · 13/12/2025 14:20

I like to dress up. I don’t go as far as high heels in the house these days though.