The Great Christmas PJ Debate: Fun Tradition or Over-the-Top Fuss?

Okay, I do not get the controversy surrounding matching family Christmas pyjamas… I mean, obviously, because I wear them every year.

But love or hate them, I think it’s safe to say it’s a tradition here to stay.

While we see the yearly reminders that it's okay if you and your family don’t have matching Christmas pyjamas, remember that it is equally okay if you do.

Once upon a time, Christmas morning was about unwrapping gifts in whatever you happened to be wearing, but now many feel like there’s an unspoken rule: if you don’t have matching PJs for the whole family, are you even celebrating Christmas properly?

Let’s talk about this cosy yet controversial tradition, I was surprised to discover that it actually dates back to the 1950s. But it's not until the last decade that it has become the done thing to do in the UK

Ok, let's discuss the case 'for' PJs

Togetherness and Joy: I love the sense of togetherness they bring. Sure, people say it’s all for social media, but I think the photos make great memories.

Festive Fun: Yes, some people might call them cringe-worthy—but so are half the things we do at Christmas. Inflatable reindeer in the garden? Cheesy holiday movies? I say bring on the cheese!

Excitement for Kids: My kids love it and look forward to it every year. Will they find it exciting at 16? Probably not, which is all the more reason to enjoy it now.

Affordable Festivity: Compared to expensive traditions like big trips or extravagant gifts, matching PJs can be a budget-friendly way to embrace the holiday spirit. Don’t get me wrong, some places charge extravagant prices, but there are also more budgeted places that sell them (I’m looking at you, Primark).

Now let's discuss the case 'against' Christmas PJ’s

Social Media Pressure: Let’s face it- social media can make us feel like we’re not doing enough. Seeing all those curated family photos can make the tradition feel less about joy and more about keeping up. But I mean my kids love this tradition and have come to expect it, and I love it, too. I have never done it because I feel ‘oh this will be a great Instagram post’

Environmental Concerns: Buying new PJs yearly can feel wasteful, especially if they’re only worn a few times. But if you know me then you will know Christmas PJs are year-round loungewear.

Seriously, ask the Evri or Amazon delivery drivers. They will vouch I can be wearing Christmas PJs in June. But I get why some people see it differently.

Financial Strain: Even budget-friendly options add up, especially in today’s economic climate. For some, it’s an unnecessary expense during an already expensive season. And while it’s easy to say, ‘If you can’t afford it, don’t do it’, social pressure can make that a challenging concept.

Performative Feel: It can lose meaning if it’s more about creating a photo op than enjoying the moment. I get why that might make the tradition feel hollow for some.

Personally, it’s always a genuine laugh in our home trying to get the picture of us all together in front of the tree. As the timer counts down to snap the picture, it looks a little like the McCallister house on home alone after they sleep in and chaotically scramble to make their flight.

On that note, can Apple work on a 5-second photo timer? 3 seconds is too short, but 10 seconds is way too long.

My Take on the Controversy

So, while I do see where people are coming from when they talk about how they find matching Christmas PJs a bit much, the thing is in my family, it’s a tradition we genuinely enjoy. And I just think if you find joy in something, then screw anyone else’s opinions.

Every year, we wear them when we’re putting up the decorations—it’s part of the fun and chaos of kicking off the festive season. That said, they are not some strict "uniform" for December. Once they are worn together while putting up the decorations, they just go into the regular wash cycle and get worn whenever they’re clean, like any other comfy clothes.

Even on Christmas morning, it's not like we all have them on. If they’re clean, you can wear them—I have enough washing to do as it is without worrying about everyone’s PJs being clean.

What’s different this year, though, is how I’ve approached sharing. Recently, I’ve been trying to be more intentional about what I post (I might do another blog post on intentional sharing soon), and while I still love the tradition, I decided to keep the PJ photos just for us.

Part of me also hesitated because I’d hate to make anyone feel rubbish about themselves. But in saying that, I think it's so important to remember that social media is a highlight reel, and at the end of the day, you shouldn’t feel inadequate about your real life based on the curated content of someone else’s.

So, while it didn’t feel necessary for me to share our pictures on my social media, I still think that if you want to share your picture, please do. Do not fret over naysayers. I didn't skip the post this year for them, but like I said, I am trying to work on more intentional sharing.  

I also think it is partly to do with me trying to live a more minimal-ish lifestyle, and deep down, I know a true minimalist wouldn’t indulge in matching PJs, so that’s why I have decided to call myself a minimal-isht rather than a minimalist. But hey, at least I'm working on it.

Sometimes, I think people love to hate. If you think they're cringeworthy, wasteful or an over-the-top fuss, then that is fine; I love that for you. But there's no need to bring others down. I don’t do ‘Christmas Eve boxes’, for example, but I would never feel the need to bring anyone down who does.

I say you do you, Mama, so no, there is no pressure to wear matching Christmas pyjamas, but equally, if you want to, you can rock that look with your family.

Matching Christmas PJs can be a fun tradition, but they’re not a requirement for holiday happiness. Whether you’re all in or skipping the matchy-matchy trend, remember that the true joy of the season has nothing to do with your clothes.

So, this year instead of sharing our usual family picture in our matching PJ’s I thought I would lighten the mood by showing why everyone in our household gets annoyed at Kieffer when we are doing things- he is such a dosser.