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

We've always had a tradition of a new pair of PJs for when santa comes. Have never done Christmas Eve boxes though, they just seem unnecessary. We don't use DVDs and we've always got hot chocolate in the cupboard.

We have wrapped pj's under the tree that we unwrap on Christmas Eve.

I like the thought of a Christmas-themed pair earlier in December though, because the only time DD has had Christmas-themed nightwear was when she needed them for something else! (activity dress-up)

I'm in my 30s and my parents always did what is now known as a christmas eve box. New Christmas pjs, a book, our favourite film and hot chocolate.

I do for my children and I love it. Christmas eve is my favourite night of the year.

Our 'tradition' that has gone on for years is not having Christmas dinner. A help yourself buffet that runs all day is what we have. It is brilliant.

Otra you made me laugh. And I couldn't agree more!

And what's with this "making memories" nonsense? You either remember things or you don't. You can't make your kids remember something/an event because you think it was nice and they should! Unless you tell them constantly about it, I suppose. But that's another thread.

As for as Christmas boxes are concerned, each to their own. But please no plastic tat. Might have to go without crackers this year.

I think it's a lovely idea but definalty step too far for us, re work.
Xmas is huge production... I can't add more however, there can be a lull on Xmas eve so I can why people do it..

I do give them new Xmas night wear though

Our 'tradition' that has gone on for years is not having Christmas dinner. A help yourself buffet that runs all day is what we have. It is brilliant.

That sounds amazing SparklingBrook

Wonder how many men organise this stuff. Damn few, would imagine.

We went out for a fantastic day during the holidays. Lunch, show, ice cream on the way home, lovely day and cost a fortune.

First day back at school DS's story was "I went into Glasgow with mum and dad and saw a very drunk man being put into the back of a police van."

And newsflash - hot chocolate is available all year round! I know!! There's no rule that you have to say it in the same sentence as "blanket" or "snuggle".

In other words . Making memories is self-indulgent wank. Memories can't be made. They just happen.

I don't do this and just think it is another one of those things designed to try to move a day into a weekend/week/other longer period and persuade people to part with cash.

I do them every year but I only wrap what I buy for them Xmas Eve anyway, new PJ's, a nice mug or glass with hot chocolate, sweets & treats for movie watching & some crafty set to keep them busy & entertained. The kids absolutely love getting them, gets them all excited for santa

I have mixed feelings about 'making memories'. My DB cannot remember a single family holiday we went on as children.

The day DS2 was born DH got a puncture, when it came to 'any news' in circle time at playgroup guess what it was that DS1 piped up with.

Hot chocolate is alright, but it's not much of a treat these days.

It really is @Chocolatedaim, means the whole day is so relaxed. Anyone dropping can come whenever they want and eat as much or as little as they want.

We don't have a Christmas Eve box. But as children, we always got one present on Christmas Eve - my grandparents weren't British, and had been brought up with opening all the presents on Christmas Eve, but tried to do things in an English way once they were living here, so it ended up being passed on by my mum as just the one present on Christmas Eve.
It was nearly always pyjamas. We loved it.
I don't actually do it with my children, but if we're staying with my mum for Christmas, there'll always be a parcel for the children appear after dinner on Christmas Eve. And it will almost always be pyjamas.

I actually think spreading the presents out a bit can make them feel more special somehow. I have very fond memories of pyjamas on Christmas Eve, they're sort of bound up in my head with the excitement of it all.

The kids get new pjs which are left under the tree, they are non xmas themed and I'd be buying them anyway (i usually get the asda 3 packs).

We watch a movie, usually Elf but last year was the grinch (Jim Carrey one).

I dont buy into a lot of the nonsense, elf on the shelf can fuck off.

I really hate the "making memories" "creating memories" twaddle, as if the children of those of us who dont do this are walking around with goldfish memories because we havent created any memories for them. And i just asked my kids what their favourite memory from summer was as we did a shit tonne of stuff as usual including a family holiday, and the consensus was " that time daddy raced us and his shorts fell down" so you can attempt to fabricate wonderful memories all you want, kids will remember anything else but

It's a good way of signalling that bedtime will start. Pyjamas and a bedtime xmas book go in ours.

Xmas is a goldmine for mumsnet rants. Personally hate the arsehole elf, and expensive advent calendars so I dont bother with them.

No. Christmas is lovely enough (and hard enough for parents doing it all alone for whatever reason) so not needed. Consumerist and gag-worthy.

I think the advice I would give to anyone with a new baby now is don't start any of this stuff unless you are willing to do it year after year after year.

As well as don't ever, ever put money in those coin operated rides.

I do Dec 1st, advent calendar, pj’s maybe bedding too

We do them as well as 1st of December boxes. We love Christmas.

Christmas Eve boxes consist of: Theatre tickets, pjs, slippers, something nice for the bath, hot chocolate and book.

1st December boxes consist of:
Letter to Santa pack, Lego and chocolate advent calendars, our elf , tickets to see Santa and reward charts.

Doesn't take long for the xenophobes to emerge on Mumsnet, does it? I also live in the US and have never heard of anyone here doing this.

I can’t see the issue with it - mine enjoy their little Christmas Eve boxes and they’re no trouble to cobble together. I just put some Christmas pyjamas in, a teddy, some reindeer food to sprinkle out the front, maybe a special bath bomb. It’s just a small treat to get it in a box before bedtime starts and they really enjoy them. It’s only once a year!

Making memories is self-indulgent wank. Memories can't be made. They just happen

Amen to this!

Making memories is self-indulgent wank. Memories can't be made. They just happen
Yes obviously memories just happen if you have a brain, the good bad and ugly memories.
You read lots of threads here from posters with horrible childhood memories.
If I want to make an effort to ensure these memories are happy ones, what is the problem.