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Original poster

Non-Christians on Christmas Jumper Day

69 replies

AFertalleOff · 10/12/2022 22:28

Work are having a Christmas Jumper Day and a festive meal with staff and service users. I would also like to wear something cheesily festive, but as I'm Jewish it wouldn't be a Christmas jumper. Would it cause offence if I wore a Channuka jumper?

OP posts:
Hattie72 · 10/12/2022 23:03

You can wear whatever you like, but a reindeer jumper is hardly a religious thing.

PestorPeston · 10/12/2022 23:03

I've only ever seen one Christmas jumper (sweat shirt) with the mother and child on it. The church warden was asked to change.

Mine's got penguins on, my DD's has reindeer.

I'd keep away from religion - most of Christmas manages to avoid Christianity.

Cherryana · 10/12/2022 23:03

I would say that a Christian Christmas and a secular Christmas are two different things. And it’s possible to join in with one without even reflecting on the other.

Secular Christmas is actually what most people think of when they think of Christmas- Father Christmas, Snowmen, Christmas Dinner, even presents on 25 Dec. You could make a link between presents and the three wise men gifts but that is tenous and not at the front of most peoples minds.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Events & celebrations
WaddleAway · 10/12/2022 23:05

I’ve never seen a Christmas jumper that had any link to the Christian aspect of the mid winter festival to be honest. Mine, that I’ve been wearing for years, has a beagle in a Santa hat on it!

HollyDollyChristmas · 10/12/2022 23:13

Someone at work wore a festive Jurassic Park jumper the other day. You don’t need to worry about yours.

twinklestarin · 10/12/2022 23:13

Christmas isnt even 'christian'. So it doesnt matter

BloodAndFire · 10/12/2022 23:27

I'm Jewish too but I really don't think there is anything Christian about reindeers, baubles, snowmen, holly, sequins, etc.

Willowmum2 · 10/12/2022 23:29

I’m Jewish too and I think wearing a Chanukah jumper is a great idea. It’s a festival that’s part of the holiday season in my opinion. Please update if you find a good one!
I always get the Chanukah pjs from Gap for DD.

louderthan · 10/12/2022 23:36

The whole point of Christmas jumper day (which a lot of people seem to have lost sight of) is to donate money to Children in Need.
So yes, just wear a sparkly jumper or a snowman or something. Loads of non-Christians (ie atheists/agnostics/most of the UK population) celebrate Christmas so I really wouldn't worry!

Similaresoldofa · 10/12/2022 23:40

Interesting, I had the same dilemma recently. I am also Jewish and going to a work Christmas event. I was considering getting a Hanukkah jumper as a laugh but in the end I decided against it. I am invited to a Christian event (some people on this thread seem to disagree but for me Christmas is Christian). Wearing something with Jewish symbols (or symbols of any other religion, for that matter) at a Christian event seems weird.

LisaJool · 10/12/2022 23:43

Just wear any jumper you want. My dc were never keen on Christmas jumpers so just wore whatever jumper they fancied to Christmas jumper day in school. Quite a lot of children who celebrated also did too.

Reasonablereasonableness · 10/12/2022 23:44

Of course you can!

Christmas jumpers have nothing to do with Christianity.

UsingChangeofName · 10/12/2022 23:45

Christmas isnt even 'christian'. So it doesnt matter

Hmm

It literally translates as festival of Christ

However, back to the OP, All they want is just a jolly, 'fun' thing to wear. Nobody minds if it is a plain jumper with bit of tinsel either worn as a necklace or sewn or pinned on somewhere.
However, none of my Christmas jumpers have anything to do with Christianity. They have things like reindeer, snowmen and elves on, on the whole.

twinklestarin · 10/12/2022 23:50

@UsingChangeofName doesnt matter what its translated as. It is still not christian

PyongyangKipperbang · 10/12/2022 23:53

I think it would be fabulous, although be prepared for the inevitable questions....which is fine....followed by the ignorant comments....which is not.

todayyoumay · 10/12/2022 23:59

I worked in a Jewish place and if I rocked with a Christmas jumper on one of the Channukah days I would've been deemed disrespectful.

But of course, the other way will def not be a problem and you are very likely aware of that.

CuriousEats · 11/12/2022 00:03

@UsingChangeofName Christmas was adopted by Christians to make Christianity more popular with the masses. It has its roots in many pagan celebrations and most things we associate with Christmas today, stem from a pagan tradition.
Pagan roots of xmas

UsingChangeofName · 11/12/2022 00:05

I'm aware of that, but it is also the time of year millions of Christians choose to celebrate the birth of Christ. Therefore, saying "it is not Christian" is disingenuous, and, knowing a small but vocal minority of posters on MN, probably intended to be goady.

JustCakeInDrag · 11/12/2022 00:10

louderthan · 10/12/2022 23:36

The whole point of Christmas jumper day (which a lot of people seem to have lost sight of) is to donate money to Children in Need.
So yes, just wear a sparkly jumper or a snowman or something. Loads of non-Christians (ie atheists/agnostics/most of the UK population) celebrate Christmas so I really wouldn't worry!

It’s Save the Children, which I suppose makes your point for you…!

Crunchingleaf · 11/12/2022 00:10

A friend of mine has a Christmas jumper featuring pizza on it. I don’t think I have ever seen a Christian Christmas jumper.
Mine has gingerbread people on it.

Byfleet · 11/12/2022 00:18

OP is this a serious question? If you have been brought up in the U.K. you must know that the overwhelming majority of Christmas festivities have nothing to do with being Christian.

But somehow I think you know that very well.

louderthan · 11/12/2022 00:19

@JustCakeInDrag hahaha! Mea culpa! Wink

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 11/12/2022 00:23

I wonder if you can get jumpers with the "holiday armadillo" from friends on? That would be a festive fun jumper that gives a nod to the fact some don't celebrate Christmas

shard5 · 11/12/2022 00:26

Just change the name to Winter Woolies day like our primary school did, problem solved!

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