to refuse to buy into the "Christmas Eve Box" fad?

[HearMeSnore]

I mean, when did this shit start? I never heard of it until this year but now I keep hearing about it in every shop as if it's as essential a part of Christmas as trees and turkeys.

Fortunately it doesn't seem to have made it into DD's hearing yet but I'm dreading being asked "will I get a Christmas Eve box this year?" as if I wasn't already spending most of the Christmas budget on her actual presents.

I'm not a "bah! humbug!" person. I love Christmas. But this is just unashamed capitalist exploitation. Like when the greeting cards industry tries to introduce "secretary's day" and shit like that.

Seriously. Can we make some kind of pact to not do it? Make it die a death before it catches on and we're all pressured into buying even more crap that nobody needs?

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

I started mine 19 years ago

I appreciate your sentiment but its much too late for me to join your pact

(Im just fucking pleased elf on a shelf wasnt a thing when mine were young...id have deffo done that!!! )

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

Good luck though!!

[Jeezoh]

I’m not doing it! I’ve always bought new pjs for Christmas Eve but that’s as far as it goes. I won’t buy more than a chocolate advent calendar either, Elf on the Shelf can sod off too!

[Ifailed]

most traditions started as a fad, some stick, some don't. No one has to follow them if they don't want to.
As an aside, I expect xmas cards to go the way of the Dodo within a decade.

[Gatehouse77]

Meh, you can choose which traditions you want to follow and leave others to do as they wish.

We do what's right for our family. Whilst I'm interested in what others do it doesn't mean I have to follow it.

My children have survived the elf-on-a-shelf fad, Christmas PJs, anything religious, etc. and don't feel hard done by or left out.

I guess it's more about how you present these things to you children than whether you choose to follow.

[Clothrabbit]

YANBU. Apparently 1st December boxes are also becoming a 'thing'. There seems to be no end to the many ways marketing men can come up with to separate parents and their money at Christmas time.

What happened to quirky family traditions? Does everything nowadays have to be commercialised and generic?

[IncyWincyGrownUp]

I barely buy into Christmas, elves/boxes/ridiculous advent calendars have no chance! :o

[LuvSmallDogs]

We were always given a pair of naice cosy PJs on Xmas eve so that the next day we would look cute opening our stockings, which I do with the DC now.

My childhood friend was allowed to unwrap one of her Xmas prezzies under the tree from friends and family.

What’s in these Xmas Eve boxes? Like an extra stocking?

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

Ifailed

I agree

I use them to decorate my book cases so im keeping the ones i really like so i can continue in years to come

[Mumof1DS]

What's a Christmas Eve box?

[Birdie6]

We've been doing it for years - it isn't new. And it isn't particularly commercialised either. I use the same boxes year after year, also the same mugs for hot chocolate and the same books to read to them because the books are about Christmas Eve. The only new things are the pajamas - hardly a huge expense!

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

What happened to quirky family traditions?

I think these things DO quite often start as quirky family traditions

And then the demand starts

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

YANBU. We don't do it. My dc know some of their friends get them but they've not asked for their own, they like the Christmas Eve traditions we have already.

[Birdie6]

Mumof1DS The box contains a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve, a mug for hot chocolate, a book about Christmas to read to them in bed, maybe a Christmas movie for everyone to watch. It's just a nice thing for the children to have on Christmas Eve, just before they go to bed. www.thebestideasforkids.com/christmas-eve-box/

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

Absolutely not doing this.

If anything I’m cutting my spending on unnecessary stuff.

No one needs another novelty mug or some such thing.

[Birdsgottafly]

I started to take part in this 'fad' 32 years ago.

We didn't have special boxes, I put everything in a Gift Bag. It was Disney Pj's and whatever film had been released for Christmas, that was before Disney products being everywhere and Cable/Sky. There were a few different bits.

It deoens on if you do new Pj's. My DD does the Alderhey one's. That's our local hospital and they aren't just for Christmas.

The Royal Family give their Christmas Gifts on Christmas Eve, because of their German heritage. That's also why we have Christmas Trees. Christmas Trees were once a new fad.

Probably people wanted to emulate Royalty and copied. But a lot of people didn't give Gifts or see Family on Christmas Day.

Is there any need to put down other people's choices because you don't want to do something?

[Snipples]

Then don't do it 🙄 but stop ruining it for people who do want to.

My mums been doing it since the mid 80s - it's not a new thing.

[TwittleBee]

Really interested in how people react different to this "fad"

I remember from a young age we always had a Xmas Eve box (I'm now 24). Inside would contain new PJs and food & drink treats for our Xmas Eve cuddle up on the sofa as a family. My grandparents done this for my mum and uncles too.

I loved this and actually my mum still buys us sisters xmas PJs now!

Certainly continuing this lovely snuggly family tradition for my own DC

[bookmum08]

Some Christmas themed gifts really need to be given (and used) in advance of the actual Big Day. I buy items like make your own tree decorations or Christmas themed novels etc. If I left these gifts until Christmas Day they probably wouldn't get used as after Boxing Day it all seems to be All Over and no one will be interested in making a tree decoration and the gift will be pushed aside and forgotten about. I haven't done or thought of doing a Christmas Eve Box but part of my Christmas present budget goes towards these Before Christmas gifts. So it isn't an extra expense. It is just part of my Christmas.

[Birdsgottafly]

"Make it die a death before it catches on and we're all pressured into buying even more crap that nobody needs?"

So I'd say, get rid of Stockings first. People seem to fill them with the worst plastic (planet destroying) crap.

It also depends on your work pattern, my DH didn't get time off until 4pm Christmas Eve, so we had our routine. We'd have Family descending the next day and that week, as well as visiting. Christmas Eve was ours, though.

This year I've taken Christmas Eve off, but I'm working Christmas Night, because Christmas Eve is quite special to me.

You just balance the gifts out. Most children get too much all on one day.

[GoldenBuns]

I'm with you OP! Mumsnet is the first place I heard of them - I can't be doing with it. In my mind, it's just another 'made-up thing' to make us buy more stuff. And don't get me started on Elf on the Shelf - it's loathsome.

Both my dc have their birthdays in December, so I have to say that by the time Christmas is over, I am suffering from Consumer Exhaustion!

[Ragwort]

Just don’t do it, no need to make a scene & declaration that you are ‘boycotting’ Christmas Eve boxes ..... there are lots of things I just don’t do, but I don’t get the need to tell everyone that I’m not doing them .

[daughterofanarchy]

I hadn’t heard of this until last year when my cousin did one for her child. I have no inclination to make Christmas Eve boxes part of our family Christmas. Some people like doing it I guess, and that’s fair enough but I can’t be bothered with the extra hassle.