People good with festive traditions can you help me with a new one please, it's DVD related.

[fuzzpig]

So, as a family (me, DH, 5yo and 3yo), we are DVD mad. It is our big weakness/vice as a couple as ATM we can't drink or go out :o and we basically use them instead of live tv, and we really love introducing the DCs to stuff we loved as children.

There are loads of DVDs we'd really like to get as a family - stuff like older Pixar films, other episodes of retro cartoons etc - it'd be a whopper bit of a lie to give them to one of the DCs, as really it's for all four of us.

So, as I'm always warmed by reading of MNers lovely and quirky family traditions and we have barely any of our own, I'd like to somehow make a Fuzzpig Family Tradition out of this. I don't know, a big hamper of them or something. Previously, we've done one DVD each in the stocking and I was going to do one in the Xmas eve hamper, but I'd like to do something different from now on that really reflects who we are.

So I ask you Wise Christmassy MNers - what is a good way of introducing this? I haven't suggested it to DH yet and I have no idea about the how, when, what etc, I want to make it magical and not just a box of 10 DVDs!

Any ideas please? :)

[GirlYouMakeMeTongueTied]

Someone here suggested an advent of books which I'm adopting, could be done with christmassy DVDs? I'm wrapping up a book for each of the 24 days up to Christmas, DD can pick one each day at random. Some, such as the night before christmas will have the date on them to be opened. You could work it so the classics, which you loved could be a weekend pick so you all have chance to sit together and watch- ones like Miracle on 34th street, or the nightmare before christmas.

[Gumby]

Put them in a big hamper with new pjs, hot chocolate, marshmallows, slankets

[GirlYouMakeMeTongueTied]

You could also tie it in with a book to read together for some if you wanted, maybe the Polar express, ones like that? And make Snowman Soup to drink while watching The Snowman?

[fuzzpig]

I was wondering about that as I saw the book advent thing. I don't think we could stretch to 24! (tempting as it is :o)

[Pancakeflipper]

You could have a Christmas Eve traditional viewing of a DVD. All in your PJ's with the popcorn and a big snuggle blanket and as a family you watch a DVD - Miracle of 34th every year forever.

[GirlYouMakeMeTongueTied]

You could make it cheap as by looking on ebay! I've just been reading your decluttering thread, why not give yourself an extra incentive by selling what you declutter on ebay, and use the funds to treat yourself? I'm justifying mine by saying these books are going to be out for one day, and then the elves will whisk them away til the next year.

As an aside, are you on MSE as well? Don't answer if you don't want to! But theres a Fuzzypig on the Christmas threads there, or there was when I used to be on a lot, and I always wonder if it's you! (Sorry, just realised I sound a bit stalkerish now, I'm not, I promise!)

[fuzzpig]

BTW they mostly won't be Xmassy ones, although the one I've got for Xmas eve is (the Christmas toy by Jim Henson - I loved it as a child!) and I was considering getting White Christmas for me and DH to watch once they are in bed - but it is mostly just random DVDs, a few we are thinking of:
Muppets movie
Bugs life
up
Fairly odd parents
Best of two ronnies
Chronological Mickey mouse anthology

It won't include box sets or non-family stuff (eg alien quadrilogy which I am getting DH uggggh!)

We have started the jammies delivered by the elves thing (with a tree dec and an Xmas book) but I think I'd like to do it separately (but still do the Xmas DVD specifically to watch before bed?) to make it special?

Ooh and we will definitely be doing snowman soup thanks :o do you know where to get edible glitter?! :o

[fuzzpig]

Ha, no I'm not on MSE, how dare they try and steal my name! :o

Fuzzpigs (it means hedgehog) are soooo much cooler than fuzzy pigs, of course.

[BikeRunSki]

We always watch the Wallace and Gromit films on DVD at Christmas. I got the DVD a few years ago, when we had DS(2), DNiece(7), DNepehew (12) and assorted adults staying - W&G have something for everyone, and they went down a storm.

How to introduce them? My 4 yo loves getting stuff in the post, maybe post them to your DC in fancy envelopes?

[GirlYouMakeMeTongueTied]

Maybe hobbycraft, or lakeland?

I love the new Muppets movie, DD is def getting that this year! Its on the Disney BOGOF at the minute too.

[fuzzpig]

Ooh I have a hobbycraft voucher, will check that out thanks. Hot chocolate is special enough as DCs never usually get it but I'd love to make it extra festive.

Honestly, where would I be without MN? When DH and I got together we had no traditions, only long histories of horrible Xmases, it is so nice to get ideas from here to make future ones better :)

[fuzzpig]

Already bought the muppets thanks to an eBay voucher code, it is going to be SO hard to resist watching it again before Xmas!

Love the post idea, DD would love that! I could maybe do one or two as special delivery but I'm unfortunately not risking it for normal post, as there is a local 'scandal' ATM about temp sorting office workers and massive increase in theft :(

[swooosh]

Have you got any local For Sale pages on Facebook? Just google your town name and 'selling/sale' etc. People often bulk sell DVDs or you can get them for as low as 20p, car boot sales also good to look!

[fuzzpig]

I'll keep my eye out thanks :) I keep wishlists on amazon so we know roughly what DVDs we would like, but it's always good to check for cheaper copies before buying!

Not sure how to 'deliver' them. I'm now wondering about keeping some back for boxing day? As they'll have the Xmas DVD on 24th, and some toys/stocking fillers to open on 25th of course. Or hide them or something? Or last day of school (if it's the same for both DCs) but it depends when I'm working.

And who would it be from - the elves do the jammies/Xmas DVD & book/tree dec/hot choc etc on 24th, but I think I'd like to do something separate for the DVDs, because I don't want them to detract from the other stuff in there IYSWIM. Can reindeers give presents?

Hmmm decisions decisions :)

[hophophippidtyhop]

I love Elf at christmas! and muppet christmas carol!

[Allalonenow]

Last year Lakeland did edible glitter.

The feast of Saint Nicholas celebrated across Europe on 6th December could be your chance to give the DVDs, or one on each of the twelve days of Christmas.

For many years we watched The Life of Brian every Christmas Eve, and thinking about it still gives me a warm glow.

[Onadietcolabreak]

I got my edible glitter from EBay, super cheap

I'm doing elf on the shelf this year and our elfred (that's what I want to call him, anyway) is going to magically turn up with some festive DVDs during December, that way, I can choose when the kids need some quite time, or I just fancy some cuddly, popcorn sofa time

And in our Xmas eve hamper they are getting Arthur Christmas

[Onadietcolabreak]

Has anyone seen the Elf on the shelf film? I can't find it anywhere in the uk

[Empusa]

The tradition I'm hoping to start is to have an Xmas Eve box, with maybe a DVD, a book and some pyjamas to enjoy on Xmas Eve.

[fuzzpig]

I'm going to out myself as a Christmas ignoramus here but what days are actually the 12 days of Xmas?!

[loubielou31]

What about mixing up the Elf on the shelf thing that people have been posting about and make up your own tradition.
I've just ordered these gorgeous toy elves
The Elf on the shelf idea as far as I understand it is that the elf sits somewhere different each day and keeps an eye on what you're doing. At night he/she comes to life and reports back to santa on your behaviour and then the next day he has hidden somewhere else in the house to watch over you. On Christmas Eve he waits with the Mince pie and carrot for the reindeer and goes back with Santa when he brings the presents.
Sometimes the elf is very naughty, my cousins elf put her little girl's knickers all over the christmas tree.
I thought that some days the elf could provide a treat if they've been especially good in the run up to Christmas. Your Elf could bring a special DVD. I thought my Elf might bring DVDs, one of those Gingerbread house Kits (although annoyingly Lidl don't seem to be going to stock them this year) and maybe a very special treat like Panto tickets or a trip on the Santa Special that the Steam Railway run.

[fuzzpig]

Ooh that's cool. I have suggested a DVD related tradition to DH and he is very keen, his first thought was an advent type thing but probably only for the 12days of Xmas due to the expense! It would be fun if we could hide them and will be an extra reason to tidy up our tiny house!