Christmas Jumper Day 2019: When is it and what's the meaning behind it?

‘Tis the the season to wear your tackiest Christmas jumper with pride

(Getty Images)

With only a short while to go until Santa Claus comes to town, it’s time to wear your most garish knitwear in celebration of Christmas Jumper Day.

The annual tradition sees everyone from your colleagues to your grandparents don the most eye-catching festive garments that they can find, so be prepared to see plenty of reindeers and and elves in every direction when the day comes around.

While it’s an undoubtedly fun and light-hearted occasion, the main focus of the day is to raise money and awareness for children who are in need.

Over the past seven years, people across the UK have embraced the concept of Christmas Jumper Day wholeheartedly, with some going to extraordinary lengths to boost their fundraising efforts.

So when is Christmas Jumper Day 2019, how did it start and how can you get involved? Here’s everything you need to know:

When is Christmas Jumper Day?

This year, Christmas Jumper Day is taking place on Friday 13 December, with the occasion always falling on a Friday in December.

While Christmas Jumper Day has a specified date, people are encouraged to raise money by wearing their Christmas jumpers on any day of their choosing.

How did it begin?

Christmas Jumper Day was launched by children’s rights charity Save the Children on Friday 14 December 2012.

The aim of the event is to raise money by having people who are wearing festive knitwear on the day donate a minimum of £2 towards the organisation, and a minimum of £1 if participants are in nursery, school or a youth group.

You can also donate by calling the Save the Children Supporter Care team on 020 7012 6400.

Ever since its launch, the entire nation has thrown themselves into the festivities, with a number of high-profile celebrities showing their support for the initiative.

How can I get involved?

Of course, the simplest way of getting involved with Christmas Jumper Day is to wear an eye-catching item of festive knitwear on the day and donate some money towards Save the Children.

If you’d like, you could also raise even more money by setting up a fundraising page online.

Arsenal footballers show their support for Christmas Jumper Day in 2016 (Getty Images)

You can do this by visiting the Save the Children team pages on justgiving.com and virginmoneygiving.com, or by signing up for Christmas Jumper Day at christmasjumperday.org.

Furthermore, if you’d like tips on how you can raise as much money as possible on Christmas Jumper Day, the charity has provided an online fundraising pack with all the information that you need.

Where can I buy a Christmas jumper?

Pretty much every high street shop is guaranteed to sell a Christmas jumper or several.

Asos has a big collection of joyful knitwear, while other brands including River Island and H&M also boast a fair amount of pieces in their collections.

If you’d like a designer alternative to the novelty knits that are on offer, check out our roundup of stylish Christmas jumpers here.

To take a look at eight of the best women’s Christmas jumpers on the market this year, click here.