My Mom’s Cozy “Pajamas Surprise” Tradition Is the Best Part of Christmas (You Have to Try It!)

Christmas morning may be the time for opening presents and gathering around the tree, but, if I’m being honest, one of my favorite parts of the holiday happens the night before. That’s when, for as long as I can remember, my mom has orchestrated the great pajamas surprise. 

New Christmas pajamas are a time-honored tradition in some families — and in mine, my mom surreptitiously shops for pajamas for all five of us (matching for me and my sisters, and something coordinating for her and my dad). Then, just before we leave the house on December 24 (for a church service when we were growing up, or to pick up Chinese takeout these days), she sneaks the wrapped parcels in front of the living room fireplace. 

When we get home, she’ll announce something like, “You guys, this is so weird? Someone left something in front of the fireplace!” When I was growing up, it was so magical — I truly could not fathom how these mystery parcels appeared while we were all out. And the handwriting labeling each of them, although strikingly similar to my mom’s, obviously could not belong to her; it had to be Santa’s. We’d tear into the wrapping paper-covered surprises, put them on immediately, and have a pajama fashion show before dishing up dinner and watching A Christmas Story. 

Although we’ve dropped the charade of Santa since my sisters and I have surpassed puberty (and ventured well into adulthood), my mom still maintains some of the winking who-knows around this treasured tradition, and it somehow makes the ritual even more special. I am a firm believer in embracing your inner child at any age, and treating yourself to new pajamas (matching or not) is such a fun way to do that during the holidays. 

My favorite pajama set at the moment is this classic striped one from Cozy Earth (I have the light blue), which is so soft but lightweight enough to wear throughout the year. If you’re interested in trying out this Christmas Eve habit yourself, but your pajama drawer is already maxed out, you can swap them out for soft socks, toasty slippers, a robe for lounging around at home, or something else you can wear that night and the next day to feel extra cozy. 

And if you don’t celebrate Christmas or have it in you to shop for anything new before December 25, you can pick your own pajama day. When I texted my mom to ask how this tradition first began, she sent a voice memo explaining how it all started when my family used to live in Spain. She wanted to get matching pajamas for my sisters but had to order them through a catalogue, and they didn’t arrive until January. They ended up saving them to celebrate on Three King’s Day instead, which they kept doing for years until eventually the ritual migrated to Christmas Eve. 

Ultimately, the one rule of pajama day is that there are no rules. Celebrate it whenever you want — just be sure to spend the day or night being extra cozy at home.