MNHQ HERE: What do you pack into a ‘Christmas Eve Box’?

Nothing. What a pile of shit

It's not mollycoddling.

It's about acknowledging there is diversity among different families, cultures and countries in the way we choose to celebrate Christmas. The way the question is posed and the subsequent post doesn't seem to consider that. So hopefully this MN video of what to put in a Christmas Eve box will also include some shoulder-shrugging and eye-rolling to reflect this thread. I'll be disappointed if it is an instructional video of another thing you ought to do, if you don't already.

You'd get the same type of response if the question was 'what sweets do you give to trick or treaters?'

On MN you'd get: lists of sweets, lists of sweet alternatives, a debate about stranger danger, the origins of Halloween and how people love/hate it. What you wouldn't get is people thinking 'well I won't comment' - it's not the Mumsnet way!

Nothing as we have 4 kids and the house is full if shite as it is.
Also there main presents are oneies and chocolate from FC so can't afford to do more.

But kitchen, surely the title would only apply to people who do put things into a CE box? Do we really need mollycoddling to the point that the word 'if' needs to be included rather than being determined by the reader?

@LilyMumsnet

Suggestion for the thread title

MNHQ here: If you pack a Christmas Eve box, what goes in it?

Far less controversial and doesn't make the assumption that everyone does this.

Imagine if you worded a thread like this...

MNHQ here: Tell us where you spend your annual fortnight abroad.

I can understand why you're getting a mixed response. I may have missed it but why do you want to know? Is it linked to a commercial sponsor?

Nothing. They get more than enough the next day without a fucking Christmas Eve Box or Elf on the fucking Shelf.

Why the fuss over this new fad.

Now I'm not having a go at Eastern Europeans, it's always been their way.

I just don't get the new fuss over Brits suddenly deciding it's a "thing" now! It's not a thing, it's tradition if and only IF you're married to/in a relationship with someone originally from Eastern europe (or similar) where Christmas Eve was the main celebration.

Now I'm not saying you can't enjoy a festivity from another culture, but all this, about pushing it on all families..... Kid1, I got this for Christmas Eve
Kid2, we don't do that, we do Christmas day. Why do you do Christmas Eve.

Or
Kid2, aw mum why don't we do Christmas Eve, it's not fair... They got this n that n I got a satsuma!

Or
Kid2, mum did you know kid1 does Christmas Eve in their family because....

Is far better that we see n respect than to just copy cos don't want our kid feeling left out, instead of explaining... Kid1's family comes from ????? country, and traditionally they celebrate eve sue to, but you don't.miss out, cos we do the day instead.

Why we got to copy others traditions n make it tacky n pointless, cos I ain't having my kid miss out!

They don't miss out, they do it differently.

What is this bloody nonsense? Never done one and not starting now

Not a thing here either, never has been.

Christmas Eve is stockings and candles, reading the Christmas story and lighting the last candle on our advent wreath which we've done together since before we had children (at Christmas this year they'll be 16, 17 and 19).

We used to hang up stockings and send Santa letters up the chimney, put out mince pie and milk, and a carrot! Now the kids (and mil who is usually with us) join us in our adult Christmas Eve tradition - food! Smoked salmon on pumpernickel, venison or steak, Grannie's pavlova! and now the dc sleep in on Christmas morning, a few nice glasses of Red!!

Before they go to bed, the dc still insist on dh reading "Kipper's Christmas Eve" by Mick Inkpen. Dd1 was given it as a baby. In it, Kipper the Dog has to decide what he likes best - presents, or expecting presents? He chooses expectation. That's what we try to do with our kids.

I put in a dvd, our selection of Christmassy books, and some nice nibbles. Grandma also has a tradition of Rudolph delivering new PJs on his way to work on Christmas Eve, so these go near the box too.

Arrival of the Xmas eve box also signifies the end of our elf. I'm always glad to see him go by that point

Always PJ’s
Makings of a hot choc, squidgy cream powder and marshmallows
Sometimes fluffy socks
Sometimes a blanket
Used to do a dvd but generally we watch a Xmas movie on tv
A bath bomb each to encourage the grits to have a bath and get into pjs then come down for hot choc and film
Always a note from the elves basically telling them to sit down, shut up and go to bed and to sleep so they don’t miss out on presents

I never spend much but have done it since they were tiny and have now let DC1 (14) in on secret and she takes great delight in helping place on the doorstep which is lovely.

Nothing, they get enough of Christmas day.

Someone linked to the Kindness Elves so I thought I'd take a look.

The "mama of 4" who came up with the idea writes "In a world that is so full of “stuff” and a creeping entitlement and have-it-all-now attitude" she designed a whole lot of tat made in China to sell at a ridiculous price. Oh the irony!

Mine are 16 and 18 now. We've never done a box but have always opened one present on Christmas Eve, and it has always been PJs. A bath, putting out whisky, a mince pie and carrot, tracking Santa on NORAD, setting up the runway on the lawn (tealights in jars), hanging up the magic key and putting out stockings kept us busy until bedtime.

Thinking back to my childhood, there were no bells and whistles, just giddy, blissful excitement all focussed on the day itself with nothing to detract from it

I agree.

All these additional presents are really not necessary!

Nothing!

They get presents the next morning! Isn't the anticipation and excitement part of Christmas?

We all have a lovely evening together though and look forward to Christmas.

with what sounds like £100 worth of stuff??

They're not my cup of tea but a dvd, new PJ's, book and some snacks probably wouldn't cost more than £20!

Christmas Box?? Never heard of it....isn't there enough already without maxing it out Christmas Eve too with what sounds like £100 worth of stuff?? The power of consumerism for materialistic people....

I'm just wondering how many copies of 'The Night Before Christmas' everyone has? We have two but don't even do The Box on 24th.

My sanity.

The most surprising thing for me is how many people put dvds in their Christmas Eve box.
I don't know anyone who still watches dvds. We don't even have our dvd player anymore.

We don't do boxes/ new jammies etc but have a lovely relaxing day with Christmas films, hot choc and marshmallows etc then hot bath, off to nativity service before leaving mince pies etc for Santa, stockings and bed (with obligatory night before Christmas/ other Christmas stories). Kind of box stuff without the box

Nothing - silly idea

We have someone with a Christmas Eve birthday so we celebrate that .

@MrsNoMopp I'm Jewish but I agree with everything you say. A huge part of religion, tradition and ritual is the rhythm and cycle of the festivals. And of course xmas day is less special if it's all been done already.