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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fucking Christmas Jumper Day

195 replies

SkateAway · 09/12/2019 22:49

AIBU and a scrooge?

My work are having a Christmas jumper day. We are a small team so it will be noticed if I don't join in and it has been implied I will be making my team look bad if I refuse.

I don't own a Christmas jumper and I don't want to waste money on something I'll never wear again. The idea is that we bring in a monetary donation and also have a donation tin for clients to donate. I have suggested a local charity for disadvantaged children.

I'd rather put an extra tenner in the donation bucket than spend it on a hideous piece of glittery landfill. I've asked around and nobody has one I can borrow, can't make it round the charity shops before the day and I'm told wearing a festive colour with some tinsel in my hair isn't in the spirit of things.

I don't like Christmas but I'm not outwardly scroogey about it. Unsure if I'm being a total bore and "that person" or if I'm justified in not being arsed with it.

I don't buy my children new ones every year, they have got one each that others have bought them and they wear those a few times over the holidays until they don't fit.

OP posts:
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LemonScentedStickyBat · 09/12/2019 22:51

I don’t mind these things and enjoy Christmas but they have really missed the point of it all if they are
trying to make people feel bad for not joining in.

Rosere · 09/12/2019 22:52

I love a Christmas jumper, but I wear mine flat out all December. I appreciate that some people do not share my love. There is no reason you can't pin a tiny bit of tinsel or some small decoration on your top and "Christmas up" an existing top. I've worn pound shop Christmas lights on a plain top. You can take them off whenever you want too??

TheWoollybacksWife · 09/12/2019 22:53

Do you have tinsel to sew on an existing jumper - either tie it in a bow and sew to the front or sew loosely round the neck and cuffs.

Alternatively sew a few small baubles to a jumper.

GunpowderGelatine · 09/12/2019 22:54

YANBU. I refused to do it for mine as I don't own one and they're about £16 for something I'll wear once! I found a sparkly jumper I had and made a tinsel necklace instead

OhChristmasTreee · 09/12/2019 22:57

Nope. I’m entirely with you. I love Christmas but jumper day can fuck off.

katy1213 · 09/12/2019 22:58

When did all this Christmas bullying become a thing? Tell them it gives a bad impression of the company to be so uncaring of the environment.

AFireInJuly · 09/12/2019 22:58

Just wear any jumper. I do this, and if questioned I say “it is my Christmas jumper”.

AgeLikeWine · 09/12/2019 22:59

YANBU at all. I don’t own a Christmas jumper and I have no intention of buying one. They are an example of gratuitous, wasteful consumerism and I’m not going to be part of it.

Shockers · 09/12/2019 23:01

Make one of those reindeer ones where you cut a hole on the jumper for your boob and stick a red glittery Pom Pom on your nipple for its nose. Tell everyone how excited you are about wearing it.

If the bluff fails, I can’t be held responsible.

Sugarpea123 · 09/12/2019 23:02

Yanbu. If I don't want to wear something/partake in something or even donate, I won't. And I don't think it's anyone's business to tell me otherwise 😬

Horehound · 09/12/2019 23:03

What size are you? I can send you one if 12 to 14 :)

Tiredandgrumpytonight · 09/12/2019 23:04

Safety pin some baubles to an oldish one?

This is how I feel about world book day and superhero day and red day and blue day and everything else day at school Angry

Original poster
SkateAway · 09/12/2019 23:09

Thanks Hore sadly, I'm much more pudding shaped than a 12-14 but very kind of you to offer.

I'd be happy to grit my teeth and wear one if it wasn't for the waste and the idiocy of donating a couple of quid to wear something that's just cost me upwards of a tenner. I know you need to have a focus point for a charity event if you expect people to give a donation but this just seems silly.

I'm wondering if I can make one with a passive agressive slogan of some sort that wont get me into trouble Grin

OP posts:
ShannonShouts · 09/12/2019 23:11

Stick Some tinsel and baubles to an existing jumper

PlanetMJ · 09/12/2019 23:16

Aah but you could buy this beauty, fucking spenno but how very mumsnet:

thespark.company/products/sleigh-the-patriarchy-feminist-christmas-jumper?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&currency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5cfR4tip5gIVDVPTCh1owlsEAQYASABEgLPAD_BwE

Horehound · 09/12/2019 23:17

Oh yeh just safety pin some Christmas tree decs to the bottom of it or as shoulder pads lol

Mucky1 · 09/12/2019 23:18

The pound shop have a Xmas jumper kit. There's all sorts in n it to stick or sew onto a jumper you already have. 👍

Mucky1 · 09/12/2019 23:19

This one is from the works.

Fucking Christmas Jumper Day
bridgetreilly · 09/12/2019 23:22

Honestly, given their attitude I would make a point of wearing the least Christmassy jumper I could find. You aren't a child and no one else gets to police what you are wearing.

PorridgeAgainAbney · 09/12/2019 23:24

You need to cultivate a reputation for having a really shit memory. I have one (no need for me to fake it, I have peri-menopausal brain fog!) and so can never be relied on to remember this sort of crap.

I never make speeches about why I'm not doing it as it always gives the usual suspects an excuse to criticise. I just walk in and say "oh shit, sorry I forgot."

What really fucks me off is that people in our place will insist that others should join in, yet won't buy a present to be handed out by a charity "because I can't afford it": I'd rather make sure a child in care gets a present than buy myself a polyester monstrosity that makes my hair frizz out with static...but I never say that, just "oh shit, sorry I forgot."Wink

Ihatesandwiches · 09/12/2019 23:26

If you're not madly fluctuating of weight, I'd say buy a Christmas jumper / blouse. You'll have it for YEARS, I treat mine as an investment piece although I was totally against the concept initially.. i wear my Christmas top to almost every festive event! It is probably the best value cost / wear item in my wardrobe, lol.
Christmas jumpers for growing children needing a new one every year? Whole different thread!

AutumnRose1 · 09/12/2019 23:27

Oh I hate this shit

Just pin a note to your back saying “this is my Christmas jumper”

Diversion · 09/12/2019 23:28

I aso work in a small team. I hate Christmas and it doesnt help that I am working both Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year. I make it nice for my family and join in with some of the client based stuff at work but refuse to wear Christmas jumpers/clothing, earings, flashing badges, antler headbands etc. I also offer to work the night shift so that those who really want to attend the Christmas "do" can do so. My colleagues know of my dislike of the festive season and do everything they can to take the mickey in a lighthearted way. Nobody should feel under pressure to wear a Christmas jumper or anything else. Give your donation but decline to wear it if it isnt your thing.

SummerInSun · 09/12/2019 23:28

YANBU. Agree completely that spending £16 on a jumper for the privilege of donating £2 to a charity is madness. I'd rather donate £18 to the charity, but I'm a team leader this year so don't feel I can skip it.

Just wrap some tinsel around the neck, sleeves and hem of an existing jumper. If asked why you didn't by one, explain that you are trying to do responsible consumerism this Christmas.

friedbeansandcheese · 09/12/2019 23:31

Bonkers. Agree with @SummerInSun - much better to donate cost of jumper to charity than but Primark jumper and donate £1.

Tinsel and baubles should be just as acceptable as Xmas jumper!