What to Write for Christmas Jumper Day: Messages and Ideas
How to write a short, cheerful Christmas Jumper Day message for friends, family, children, colleagues and teachers, with ideas for jokes and thank-yous.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, because a card that has to be opened plays when it is opened and not when it is sent. A message sent after the day to say thank you or well done is welcome too.
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.
Common questions
Do I need to mention the charity? No. A cheerful message is enough. If you do, a simple thank you for taking part is plenty.
What if I do not have a jumper? Say so, and joke about it. A message that says you are wearing a normal shirt and feeling left out is a good one.
Is it all right to send it to a colleague I do not know well? Yes, if it is friendly and kind. Keep the jokes about the jumper and nothing else.
Can I send it after the day? Yes. A thank you or a well done a day later still lands well.