Christmas Sweaters

I vividly recall a scene in the 2001 movie Bridget Jones’s Diary where Colin Firth’s character (Mark Darcy) turns to greet Bridget (Renée Zellweger) at a family gathering wearing an unattractive knitted garment featuring a giant red-nosed reindeer. Bridget was visibly petrified at the gaudy attire. I remember telling myself: I will never wear something like that! Just like Bridget, I also somehow recoiled at Darcy’s outfit.

Notably, other Hollywood movies such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and The Night Before also featured the outrageous, ugly and garish Christmas sweater. In time, this fashion faux pas was transformed into a globally accepted way of bringing joy and laughter to holiday celebrations.

I happily note that this quirky trend has been adopted in this year’s RCM Christmas party. Indeed, it is a welcome and brilliant theme. I must confess though that, as I write this, I still do not have a Christmas sweater to wear to the party. While I told myself in 2001 that I will never wear such a festive eyesore, I am actually happily conceding that it will indeed be fun and humorous to wear such a sweater in our club gathering. I just hope I will still be able to grab one.

It was in the 1950s when Christmas-themed pullovers started making an appearance. These ugly Christmas sweaters were then referred to as “Jingle Bell Sweaters,” and at that time, they were reportedly not as garish as today’s iterations.

It was thus when Bridget began cringing on Darci’s sweater that parties featuring this outfit started kicking off. This year, we will be experiencing this trend as we are all encouraged to wear something ridiculous and fun. I look forward to seeing members embrace this social phenomenon, and personally think that the more contemporary holiday sweater designs are actually cute and creative.

Indeed, in the present day, the ugly Christmas sweater has become such a cherished Christmas tradition that celebrates tackiness in a new light – all aimed at eliciting good laughter and pure fun.

The perfect and most precious Christmas gift that we can give to our Club and to each other is Time. When we give our time, we bestow a little of ourselves and a part of our lives to someone else. In fact, there is no denying that Time in the service of others is what defines all Rotarians. Hence, in this Christmas season, let us give (and continue giving) the precious gift of Time to our Club (to its activities and projects) and to each other. Let us celebrate this Christmas in the true Rotarian spirit of service and fellowship. Merry Christmas to all!