What to Write for Christmas Jumper Day: Messages and Ideas

Christmas Jumper Day is one of the friendliest days of the December calendar. Schools, offices and families across the UK wear their silliest festive jumper, give a donation to Save the Children and spend the day laughing at each other’s knitwear. A short message sent on the day, or just before it, fits the mood perfectly. This guide helps you write one that sounds like you. For a card to go with it, see what to write in a Christmas card.

Know what the day is

Christmas Jumper Day is run by Save the Children, which uses the money raised to help children. The charity sets an official date every December, and for 2026 it is Thursday, 10 December. Plenty of schools and workplaces pick another day that suits them better, and that is fine, so check which day your friend, child or colleague is actually marking. If you mention the charity, keep to simple, true statements, such as thanking someone for taking part. Say Wishes is not connected to Save the Children.

Start with the jumper

The jumper is the star, so the best messages talk about it. Is it knitted by a grandparent? Does it have bells, lights or a pudding with a face? Does the wearer love it or wear it under protest? One real detail makes the message sound personal, and it is usually where the joke is too.

Be playful, not mean

Teasing is part of the day, so a gentle joke about a daft jumper is welcome. Aim at the jumper, never at the person’s looks or their budget. If you are not sure how someone will take a joke, choose a compliment instead: the brightest, the cosiest or the most creative jumper in the building.

Teasing the jumper, not the person

✓ Playful

• A joke about the bells, lights or bobbles
• Crowning the brightest jumper in the building
• A challenge to wear something ridiculous
• A compliment: the most creative or the cosiest

✕ Unkind

• Jokes about someone's looks
• Comments about what they could afford
• Teasing someone you are not sure will enjoy it
• Anything that makes the day about who has the best jumper

Messages for different people

Friends. Challenge them to wear something ridiculous and promise to send a photo back. A joke about the lights or the bobbles works well.

Family. Mention the family jumpers, the group photo or the person who knitted one. Keep it warm and short.

Children. Use simple, excited words about the jumper and the day at school. A few short sentences are enough, and a reminder to take a picture is a nice touch.

Colleagues. Keep it friendly and professional. Thank people for joining in, wish them a good day and mention the cake or the biscuits if there are any.

Teachers and schools. A thank you goes a long way. Say what the children enjoyed, and thank the staff who organised it.

Try it: pick who it is for

Use one as it is, or swap in a detail about the jumper.

Friends

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, Jo! I am wearing the one with bells on, and it jingles every time I move. Send me a photo of yours. Loser buys the biscuits.

Happy Christmas Jumper Day! I hope yours is as daft as mine. Wear it with pride and send a photo.

Family

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, everyone! I hope Gran's reindeer jumper is out and the family photo is on its way. Thank you for making this day so silly.

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, Dad! I know you are wearing the pudding one under protest. It suits you. Love, Sam.

Children

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, Evie! Your jumper is the best one in the whole school. Have fun, and remember to take a picture.

It is Christmas Jumper Day, Leo! I hope the lights on your jumper twinkle all day. Have a brilliant time.

Colleagues

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, team! Thank you for joining in. Brilliant jumpers all round, and cake in the kitchen at three, if the rumours are true.

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, Priya! Yours is the brightest in the building. Thank you for making the office so cheerful.

Teachers

Thank you for making Christmas Jumper Day such fun for the children. They talked about it all evening. Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, Mrs Ahmed! Thank you for the silly hats, the songs and the best day of the term.

Light up a jumper with your message

Keep it short

Two to four sentences are enough. A message sent on the morning of the day is read in a few seconds, often at the school gate or on the way into work, and a short one is more likely to be read twice.

Check the details

Check names and spelling, and make sure the message does not mention something that is meant to stay a surprise. If you are sending a link, remember that anyone who has it can read the message, so leave out private details such as a child’s school or address.

Before you send it

• It mentions one real detail about the jumper.
• The joke is about the jumper, not the person.
• Names are spelled right.
• It is two to four sentences.
• It leaves out private details such as a child's school or address.

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When to send it

The morning of the day is the classic time, so the person sees it before they put the jumper on. If you have an early start, you can send the link the evening before. A message sent after the day to say thank you or well done is welcome too.

When to send it

1. The evening beforeSend the linkIt plays when it is opened, not when it is sent.
2. The morning of the dayThe classic timeThe person sees it before they put the jumper on.
3. The day afterSay thank you or well doneIt still lands well.

The official date for 2026 is Thursday, 10 December. Check the day your friend, child or colleague is actually marking.

A short example

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, Gran! I am wearing the reindeer one you knitted me and it has been a hit at school. Thank you for making it. I will send you a photo this afternoon. Love, Sam.

Try it on Say Wishes

You can light up a knitted jumper and share your words as one link with the Christmas Jumper Day tool. Browse the ready-made Christmas Jumper Day messages for ideas, or see more ways to send a wish on the Christmas and winter page.