Christmas Sweaters: A PSA
(This is a repost originally posted under a different name which someone took offense to. It’s a long story.)
Yesterday, I posted the following tweet:
I’m going to write a post tomorrow that needs to be written. It may offend some people, but I’ve got to take a stand.
About most things, I am willing to speak out, but on this particular subject I felt the damage might be too great; the cost too high. But then I received the following reply from @peacegardenmama:
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968
Thank you, Roxane. Your tweet gave me the courage to finally end my silence; to speak out against what might be the greatest abomination of the Christmas season.
I’m talking about, of course…
The holiday sweater:
First introduced as a form of seasonal birth control in communist China, they soon made their way across the Pacific to Europe and the New World. But this still does not answer the question of why, in a country where its citizens have the freedom to wear anything they choose, people would voluntarily wear one of these things.
At first, the blight of the holiday sweater was only observed in the weakest of our society–those not in a position to make sound, educated decisions about their wardrobe choices. I speak, of course, of the very young:
and the elderly:
So what of the rest of society? I have a theory:
Having worked in the fashion industry for several years (and by “having worked in the fashion industry” I mean “I worked in the Junior Department of a local department store”), I know that home interior trends tend to follow clothing fashion trends. Don’t believe me? Here’s proof:
From the runways and red carpets of one fashion season:
To the trendy, overpriced furniture stores the following season:
I think it’s important to remember that this is a one way street. Clothing fashions can trend to home fashions, but when you try to flip this trend, the results are often disastrous:
As a Christian, I find it disheartening that Christ followers seem particularly vulnerable to the mysterious allure of the holiday sweater.
Attend any Women’s Ministry Christmas Tea, luncheon or cookie exchange, and I dare you to swing a wiffle bat without hitting an attendee NOT wearing a holiday sweater.
I think this particular phenomenon can be traced back to a misinterpretation of scripture. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you and treating your body as a holy temple. Perhaps in later translations it states, “the Holy Spirit shall come to dwell on your person. Maybe you should provide a comfy chair and a big picture window with a cat sitting in it.”
(Of course, this is pure conjecture on my part as I don’t own a copy of the New Living Translation Bible.)
I know I have focused on women’s holiday sweaters in this post, but in conclusion I want to urge men, women and children alike to think long and hard before the Christmas card photo this year. One hundred years from now, is this how you want to be remembered by future generations?
No, I didn’t think so…
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Too funny! Glad I don’t own a sweater… Of course the things I hated as a kid I vowed not to ever wear again as an adult. So far so good!
When I read your other post a few weeks ago, I was surprised at the stance you chose to take. But as not to throw wood into fire, I said nothing even though it didn’t sit well with me. I think it’s good that you have reconsidered. One issue never had anything to do with the other.
I have NEVER owned a Christmas sweater. Thank God. Though I have had to discourage well-meaning family members who thought I should have one, just to fit in with the crowd. I secretly made plans to splash battery acid on it while (pretend) working on the car, or have it chewed up by fictional rats if one did appear in my gifts. Thanks for helping my justify my stance Kathy.
Kat ~ So funny! I don’t have time to be offended, so I’ll tell a tiny story here. As our 2 daughters were growing up, they had a distinct dislike of Christmas sweaters. For the same reasons you stated. A couple of years ago my true love and I found 2 of the most “Christmasy” sweaters we had ever seen. We purchased them knowing full well the response we would get. When the girls opened their gifts, the response was far more than we could have imagined. They held them up, looked at each other and laughed out loud for at least ten minutes, tears rolling down their faces. The husbands were looking on and wondering just what it was all about. Needless to say, they never wore them, and I had fun telling the clerk why I was returning them.
You made my day on memory lane Kat!
I’m sure you’ll be surprised to know that I own a Christmas sweater. But mine is totally classy. Really.
I’m confused at the ‘offensive’ nature of this, but I’ve got a lot of confusion going on today so it’s par for the course. I don’t own a Christmas sweater, but I’m thinking I should get one and wear it to our Christmas service. Then when people start laughing, I’ll pretend to cry and run out of the room. Yeah, my brain goes weird places…
too funny! I must send the link to this to my friend who ALWAYS hauls out her Christmas sweaters — note the plural — and wears them everywhere during the season!
Too too funny!
LOL! I REMEMBER this post, Kathy! It’s just as hilarious the second time through!
I’ve never owned a Christmas sweater. I stick with Christmas socks.
Much more classy. Especially the Snoopy Christmas socks.
So glad you took a stand!
I FINALLY fit in my Christmas sweaters again, so yes, I’m wearing them! And as a SPECIAL treat for you, I will take a picture of me when I wear them, and email them to you one by one. MERRY CHRISTMAS KATDISH!!!