Christmas Pyjamas – A Guide to the Cosy Tradition

Short answer: A Christmas pyjama does not need a reindeer print to create the mood. A soft pyjama that the whole family wears on Christmas Eve and between Christmas and New Year does the job. Choose a set in bamboo viscose and it gets worn all year, not only in December.

The tradition behind the Christmas pyjama

The custom of a shared set of nightwear on Christmas Eve is young and comes from American family photographs. It has stuck because it is easy: one thing everyone shares without anything having to be planned. See the sets under pyjamas for women.

Pattern or no pattern

A set with reindeer gets worn three times and then sits in the wardrobe for the rest of the year. A plain or discreetly striped set in a deep red or green gives the same mood and can be worn in March. That single decision sets the cost per wearing.

The material matters most

Most Christmas pyjamas are sewn in thick cotton or towelling, because they look warm. In return they turn clammy quickly in a heated living room on Christmas Eve. Bamboo viscose moves the moisture away, and that matters more than the pattern when the set is worn for hours.

For the whole family

If the sets should match, choosing the same colour is simpler than the same pattern, because the range is rarely available in every size. See the men's sets under bamboo pyjamas for men and the women's in the same tone, and they resemble each other.

As a Christmas present

A set of nightwear is one of the few presents that gets used every single day. See Christmas presents for him and Christmas presents for her if the pyjama is to be the present itself and not just something put on for the evening.

Size when giving it as a gift

Nightwear is easier to get right in size than daywear, because it should fit loosely. If in doubt, go one size up rather than down. A pyjama that is slightly too big gets worn, while one that pulls at the waistband gets put away.

When to buy it

Christmas sets sell out in November, because they are produced in limited numbers. If it has to be a particular set for the whole family, the end of October is the safe time. If you buy a plain set instead, there is no deadline to work around.

Washing and storage

Wash at 30 degrees without fabric softener, and wash the set together so both parts fade at the same pace. If the set is being kept until next Christmas, wash it clean first. Perspiration and skin oils left behind turn into yellow marks over a year in a wardrobe. See also sleeping better with bamboo.