A Suspended Christmas

featuring SELFISH MOTHER and Save the Children

If you do not live in the United Kingdom, then grab a seat! This post requires an explanation.

A Christmas jumper is ‘a top pulled over the head to cover the torso, themed with a Christmas or winter-style design.’ Save the Children UK encourage people to wear a Christmas jumper on a specific day in December (it’s the 14th this year) and raise money for the charity. Most people wear Christmas jumpers outside of that one day, during Advent and Christmas.

I have very different children, as you would have, by now, understood from here, here or here.

One of my children, the same one who loves dress up, sparkle and fancy hats, also loves Christmas jumper day.

When she was two and a half, this one child received her first Christmas jumper. We chose it together, in a local charity shop. We both loved it: its simple, yet timeless pattern, the cheeky Santa on the front, and the slightly old-fashioned cobalt blue.

From that day onwards (it must have been late November) all the way to January, my daughter wore the jumper constantly, with micro breaks for quick washes. The jumper went with anything: skirts and trousers alike.

This mini-tradition of hers continues year after year. Whilst my eldest changed Christmas jumpers from more complex to ‘I want to feel comfortable’ types, my middle daughter has been wearing the same piece of clothing which kept on shrinking. She wore the jumper at 3 years old, 4, 5, 6 and … well, now, at 7, she is reluctantly passing it on to her little sister.

Last year, the jumper got its moment of glory, twice.

First time, it got featured in the school newsletter, as model Christmas jumper.

Here’s the proof.

 

 

The second time… is the reason why I am sharing this post with you.

You see this exhibition here?

Look on the far-left corner of the mausoleum made of discarded clothes. You might just notice the same – exactly the same jumper. It only comes in one size (unfortunately, otherwise I might have sourced one for myself), so this other jumper could class as a jumper twin.

A SUSPENDED CHRISTMAS

My husband came across this exhibition one lunchtime in January this year.

Suspended was an installation artwork  which toured the UK. The artist created it out of hundreds of items of clothing that had been discarded by refugees arriving on the beaches of Lesbos, who had recently fled war, persecution and poverty.

I guess this is enough said.

And now, the questions: Who wore this jumper, in child size? Why did they discard it?

A jumper that is so much loved by another, has given so much comfort and would simply be so useful at night, in even the warmest climates. I am unable to imagine the rush and immediacy of the decision to throw it away, and my heart simply breaks.  For the child, not the jumper.

If you do need a Christmas jumper, head to Selfish Mother. They donate 50% to Save the Children UK.

And get in touch if you support a refugee charity and would like to shout out about them.

I do have a tendency of writing stories featuring jumpers. Here’s another one.

Can you see your jumper in here?