Christmas Eve boxes?

[Phycadelicsilhouette]

Just wondered what people’s opinions are on the modern ‘tradition’ of ‘the Christmas Eve box’.
I’m no Scrooge, I love Christmas. The music, the lights, the light switch ons, the pantomime, the food, the board games ect ect.... BUT after jumping on the Christmas

Just tell them it won’t be happening this year.
I’ve told my kids that we’re are having a “ no crap” Christmas. So no cute but useless stuff from Tiger that they might like for 10 minutes.

Fewer presents and less food.
We’re all a bit podgy, the last thing we need is a fortnight of stuffing ourselves, which it always turns into as we do it all twice( not envy!)

I would market it to them as an eco Christmas, but they both really want kittens, so that is the only big present they are getting, and pets are by no means eco friendly.
None of us need anything though, so it’s going to be more about games and people.
They seem philosophical so far.

You know Christmas is just round the corner when the Christmas Eve Box threads start appearing on MN!

I don't do Christmas Eve boxes but my 2 (when they were little) always got cosy new pj's, slippers and dressing gown on Christmas Eve. It was nice but I certainly wouldn't have given presents (clothes not being presents for children being my way of thinking).

I do them.

For my daughter who is six I put in pyjamas, new slippers, colouring pens, colouring book. The Christmas book we read every year, Christmas hot chocolate and a glittery bubble bath.

We usually get my husband to knock on the front door then hide and when she opens the door we tell her it's from the elves to get ready for bed on Christmas Eve.

She loves it.

Blimey .... where's it going to stop? Sooo much pressure!

Pointless but each to their own etc.

I've never done one.

We do them instead of stockings and we fill it with things meant for Xmas eve, so new pjs, hot choc and marshmallows, a film, that kind of thing. So it's not really an extra gift like some people do, but things that we'll use to have some quality time on Xmas eve

Capitalism is like a huge munching caterpillar, consuming everyone's money with a voracious appetite. New food sources must constantly be sought so new money making strategies devised. It's interesting to follow the new fads which come out and see how the population are expected to buy into them.

I think it will go down really well in this house it is a lovely idea for creating memories.

PJs are still STUFF, especially if they’re festive designs and not worn much after new year.

Never heard of it

Stuff doesn’t equal “making memories”

It is hardly loads of stuff a few treats in a box. People will spend at Chrustmas they can chose this way as a cheaper alternative.
We wont spend lots on gifts, though I like to buy crafts treats gingerbread men, they create more memories than an extra toy.
It is not for social media.

We were our festive pjs right up until April.

*wear ffs the brain processing is knackered today.

PJs are still STUFF, especially if they’re festive designs and not worn much after new year

We buy new pyjamas at Christmas because they have usually grown out of the previous size by then. We never buy Christmas themed clothes.

For me its not a new thing its continuing a tradition from I was little of new pyjamas on Christmas Eve. We'd go to church and then come home for a bath and new pyjamas would be waiting for us. There'd also be a new outfit to wear in Christmas day under the tree to be opened in the morning.

I've done the same for 20 years with my two, new pyjamas to wear for bed and when they were smaller they'd also get a Christmas book to read at bedtime and/or a Christnassy bath bomb. It's not a Christmas Eve box and doesn't have gifts or anything fancy but is a nice tradition we like. I can imagine it continuing for as long as they spend Christmas Eve at home.

I had never heard of them until MN. Iam quite relieved we managed to get by without them, because I find Christmas stressful enough as it is.

Can't imagine my two getting excited at the prospect of new pyjamas, or slippers and they never liked hot chocolate, but we did watch our fair share of films.

Elf on the Shelf wasn't a thing either. Thankfully.

No no no to Xmas eve boxes, cost far to much money and I would rather use those funds to do something as a family. Go to the cinema to watch muppets Xmas carol (or whatever Christmas film they are showing) and then go for hot chocolate. Or book tickets for ice skating at Somerset house, and then out for lunch...that’s far more memorable and special.

My Victorian granny did it as did her mum and so has every generation of my family since. Of course, in the 19th century with 13 siblings and living in a two up two down terrace, she was a consumerist sheep. I mean she didn't know any Americans in her S Derbys mining community but I'm sure the bastards were somehow the source of her showy, smug, magic-diluting nonsense.

Do you know, it is tradition in our family and always has been. It also costs nothing as it is about homemade treats and crafts and the appearance of the Night Before Christmas on the hearth but do you know what, I don't give a flying frig if people spend the equivalent of my monthly income on Christmas Eve fripperies and hire Justin Bieber to hand deliver it all on a gold platter. It drives me mad that Christmas on MN is an excuse for people to rock up with their sneering and judgements and their protestations which are often unfounded.

Do it. Don't do it. Just stop with the sweeping generalisations.

We don’t give Christmas Eve boxes per se, we do give our DD’s new pyjamas (not Christmas themed ones) which is something both of our mums did for us and I know my grandmother did for my mum.

In our house it’s always been; bath/shower, new pyjamas on - no giving as such just got out as any other pair would be, little comment of ‘oooh Christmas pyjamas’, hot choc, movie, story - the night before Christmas and then the mammoth task of getting them to sleep. Which is pretty much how it was for me and DH when we were little.

My mum still buys me my Christmas Eve pyjamas every year and I’m 40 MIL doesn’t buy for DH as he doesn’t wear them

Everyone has their own traditions at Christmas, it’s all part of the fun and just because someone does something different to you or something you wouldn’t do it doesn’t make it wrong.

It's all very consumerist and Christmas Eve seems a little close to the actual day. But I did December 1st boxes with pyjamas, Xmas jumper, advent calendar, Christmas activity books and panto tickets. I thought that was better as we actually got the use out of it and it's all things I intended to buy anyway

I think this is a much better alternative.

Not a tradition. Made-up, consumerist tat. Much beloved by the huns who witter on about "cosy" and "snuggling up with my #famalam drinking hot choccie".

Vomit.

Don't do them. Never have, never will. They can fuck right off, with their Elf mate and his shelf.

ShowOfHands Brilliant! You’re my new hero for that comment.