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Original poster

We've got Father Christmas, we have Elf on the Shelf. But what new magical ideas can you bring to the table for children to believe in at Christmas?

108 replies

cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 09:56

Father Christmas (as we know him, a person in a red suit bringing gifts to children with reindeer) has been around since the 1840s.
Elf on the Shelf. An elf watching you and reporting on your behaviour, has been around since 2005.

So it's time for some new ideas. Just something magical for children to believe in at Christmas. No idea too outrageous.

I'm going for a magic woodcutter who cuts down a small tree and brings it to your house when the children are asleep. In the morning, it appears in a special container. He does this as he knows that a tree symbolises eternal life and he wants everyone to have one so they can decorate it in a house.

Parents are still free to buy their own tree of course.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:12

How about three ghosts who will show up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve and torture you with images of your past, present and future if you don't behave yourself/be kind?

To keep these ghosts away you have to do something kind each day of December like a kindness advent calendar.

Justkeepsplashing · 09/12/2023 10:12

Ohhhh… see, I’m so exhausted and full of cold I missed your sarcasm, OP. Sorry

RedToothBrush · 09/12/2023 10:12

ShowOfHands · 09/12/2023 10:09

I think we need to commercialise Jack Frost. Element of needing to be prepared at all times because you can't tie it to a date due to unpredictability of weather, and if you link in perishables needing to be replaced, there's an ongoing profit from November through to March.

I'd go for sweets akin to the old Foxes Glacier mints but rebranded, left on children's windowsills for the element of danger.

Edited

Oooo if it snows in December, Jack Frost leaves magic candy canes on the doorstep.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas Events & celebrations
Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:14

So either you're looking for a new business idea for you

or

You've been set a team building task to come up with a new Christmas idea to make money, which you have to present back to another group and the best one wins a prize? a vapid task set by overpaid training consultants no doubt or academics who are just taking the piss out of you.

or

you're just looking for another consumerism nail in the coffin during a cost of living crisis.

Which one is it?

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:14

Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:08

More magical, you mean more ways to fleece people of their money?

More ways to wreck the environment by producing more crap.

That's not exactly in the spirit of Christmas, is it?

No thanks, Christmas doesn't need to be made magical by expensive tat.

I'm guessing you're looking for a business idea to put of Facebook 🙄

You got me Hmm

Some people are taking this thread very seriously.

I bet this is the reaction that someone would have got when they pitched the idea of Father Christmas.

OP posts:
Echobelly · 09/12/2023 10:15

We don't even celebrate Christmas and I'm exhausted just reading about all the bloody 'Christmas eve boxes' and elves and shit. I can't imagine what it must be like being expected to do all of it.

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:15

Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:14

So either you're looking for a new business idea for you

or

You've been set a team building task to come up with a new Christmas idea to make money, which you have to present back to another group and the best one wins a prize? a vapid task set by overpaid training consultants no doubt or academics who are just taking the piss out of you.

or

you're just looking for another consumerism nail in the coffin during a cost of living crisis.

Which one is it?

Or maybe it's a fun thread?

OP posts:
Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:16

NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:12

How about three ghosts who will show up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve and torture you with images of your past, present and future if you don't behave yourself/be kind?

To keep these ghosts away you have to do something kind each day of December like a kindness advent calendar.

Now that's a good one.

Might give children some nightmares though.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:16

cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:15

Or maybe it's a fun thread?

Show quote history

Fun? On Mumsnet? Don't be ridiculous.

RedToothBrush · 09/12/2023 10:17

The mince pie and gin gnome who turns up on 23rd December to aid parents who have had enough of the over excited children and still have shedload to do before the big day.

The Delivery Munchkin who ensures that you get a prime slot for your Christmas supermarket shop with absolutely no ridiculous substitutions.

The traffic jam cruncher which blows up all the naughty cars who are driving badly when going to grandma's.

NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:17

cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:16

Now that's a good one.

Might give children some nightmares though.

Show quote history

Only the ones who deserve to have nightmares and they know what they need to do to avoid the nightmares.

RedToothBrush · 09/12/2023 10:18

Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:14

So either you're looking for a new business idea for you

or

You've been set a team building task to come up with a new Christmas idea to make money, which you have to present back to another group and the best one wins a prize? a vapid task set by overpaid training consultants no doubt or academics who are just taking the piss out of you.

or

you're just looking for another consumerism nail in the coffin during a cost of living crisis.

Which one is it?

Or the OP is being sarcastic and is suggesting we could up with fucking stupid ideas to rival that bloody Elf and how so many dumb parents got suckered into that horror show.

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:19

RedToothBrush · 09/12/2023 10:11

The magic wrapping monster.

Where Mums leave their gifts in a dark corner and return to find them all magically beautifully wrapped complete with ribbons and name tags. For no charge.

You could put him up at night.

And in the morning, the presents all appear under the tree. Magically wrapped.
Which has been delivered by the (not rogue) woodcutter.

But he only does this if a glass of wine is left out. And the children are really really quiet.

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 09/12/2023 10:19

We could go continental and start having St Nicholas here on the 5th/6th December too.

ToddlerMumma · 09/12/2023 10:19

The Christmas robin who checks on little children to make sure they are being good and reports back to father Christmas. Great way of making them behave 'ooo, I think I just saw the Christmas robin out the window!' Also good way to get them out for a big romp outside to look for it

Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:20

cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:14

You got me Hmm

Some people are taking this thread very seriously.

I bet this is the reaction that someone would have got when they pitched the idea of Father Christmas.

Show quote history

Father Christmas wasn't pitched. He was based on a religious icon (St Nicholas, who was based on a 4th Century Bishop), which crazy as it sounds is actually connected to the real meaning of Christmas (shock horror!).

If you have to pitch something it's based on commercialism which is designed to cost people money. Businesses rub their hands in glee when they can come up with a new way to guilt trip parents into parting with money they can't afford.

WhileMyDishwasherGentlyWeeps · 09/12/2023 10:22

I’m thinking Elf on a Shelf, but for adults.

i give you…the Wobblin’ Goblin.

S/he turns up around Christmas, drinks wine, gin, beer and anything else alcoholic and totters around the house muttering “Merry Christmas my arse”, “Santa’s a cunt” and “I hate this festive shit”.

Winner.

Saz12 · 09/12/2023 10:23

@WhileMyDishwasherGentlyWeeps - genius! Some evenings I fear that might be me. Could monetize further by selling the outfit.

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:24

WhileMyDishwasherGentlyWeeps · 09/12/2023 10:22

I’m thinking Elf on a Shelf, but for adults.

i give you…the Wobblin’ Goblin.

S/he turns up around Christmas, drinks wine, gin, beer and anything else alcoholic and totters around the house muttering “Merry Christmas my arse”, “Santa’s a cunt” and “I hate this festive shit”.

Winner.

That's marketable straightaway. It would need to have her own voice - would you just touch the wine glass in her hand?

OP posts:
Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:24

cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:15

Or maybe it's a fun thread?

Show quote history

OP you said you started this idea 'So shops can sell more stuff'.

How is that just for fun?

You're being disingenuous and trying to pass research off as faux fun activity. Just own it.

Stickthatupyourdojo · 09/12/2023 10:24

I think a snowball piñata would be good for kids. They can whack it with personalised sticks obtained from Etsy and it would take an hour to fill just to really make sure knackered parents have zero down time each evening when the kids are in bed. Obviously kids will compare so it will need to be filled each day with token items like switch game cartridges or tickets to Lapland.

Also advent calendar bedding. You know those days of the week pants children sometimes have? Like that but a new set of bedding each night counting down to the big day. New each year so they don't know what picture they'll be getting on each day.

NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:26

Stickthatupyourdojo · 09/12/2023 10:24

I think a snowball piñata would be good for kids. They can whack it with personalised sticks obtained from Etsy and it would take an hour to fill just to really make sure knackered parents have zero down time each evening when the kids are in bed. Obviously kids will compare so it will need to be filled each day with token items like switch game cartridges or tickets to Lapland.

Also advent calendar bedding. You know those days of the week pants children sometimes have? Like that but a new set of bedding each night counting down to the big day. New each year so they don't know what picture they'll be getting on each day.

Absolute genius.

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:27

Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:24

OP you said you started this idea 'So shops can sell more stuff'.

How is that just for fun?

You're being disingenuous and trying to pass research off as faux fun activity. Just own it.

Show quote history

No Christmas spirit with you.

So this is either a marketing activity or a fun thread

(you might like to read the thread where this idea came from.)

Page 4 | The existence of Father Christmas is a lie that children shouldn’t be told | Mumsnet

(my message and thought process is there)

Page 15 | The existence of Father Christmas is a lie that children shouldn’t be told | Mumsnet

I’ve noticed on social media recently that a LOT of people are posting about not allowing their children to believe in Father Christmas. The rationale...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4959327-the-existence-of-father-christmas-is-a-lie-that-children-shouldnt-be-told?page=4&reply=131318143

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:28

Buddhabobby · 09/12/2023 10:24

OP you said you started this idea 'So shops can sell more stuff'.

How is that just for fun?

You're being disingenuous and trying to pass research off as faux fun activity. Just own it.

Show quote history

I don't want to speak on the OP's behalf, but I think the fun comes from the fact that 'so shops can sell more stuff' was...wait for it....a joke!

I know a joke on Mumsnet is not really in keeping with the spirit of the site, but the OP is obviously a rogue poster. Maybe contact Mumsnet and ask she be banned?

chouxfleur · 09/12/2023 10:29

I think not enough is done to celebrate Epiphany in this country.

In Spain that is the day when you traditionally receive presents, as that is when the Three Wise Men arrived with their gifts.

In remembrance of this I think all the people (generally women) who organised the rest of the Christmas period should be given three presents on January 6:
Some classy jewellery to symbolise gold
Perfume to symbolise frankincense
Not sure about the Myrrh yet...