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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:
Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 10:31

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...

Well that's a whole new opportunity.
And it would fill the void between New Year and Valentines Day.

OP posts:
Hattie89 · 09/12/2023 10:35

Read em an age appropriate version of A Christmas Carol. That’s got plenty of supernatural elements and will teach them the true meaning of Christmas.

NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:35

How about the Fun Troll. She comes every night of December and leaves a fun idea for you to complete the next day like decorate a gingerbread house, sing some carols, come up with an idea for a new magical Christmas figure etc.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas Events & celebrations
Springcleaninginsummer · 09/12/2023 10:37

What about a UK twist on the continental tradition of having a shitting figure in the nativity scene? I am thinking of plastic or pottery dogs dogshit in a sparkly bag to festoon the Christmas tree rather than the neighbours bushes.

anythinginapinch · 09/12/2023 10:37

January should be devoted to caring for the women, who have just "birthed" the family Christmas yet again, so as to minimise any risk of post natal depression aka post nativity depression.
Careful relentless advertising starting on Boxing Day aimed at Men and children should promote the necessity of buying their Christmas-maker an abundance of goodies.

ANightingale · 09/12/2023 10:41

Revive the Twelve Days of Christmas and wow your kids with turtle doves, geese, maids-a-milking and of course, a partridge in a pear tree.

MrsWimpy · 09/12/2023 10:43

Love the full on sense of humour fail on this thread 🤣

RaininSummer · 09/12/2023 10:44

A virgin birth and angels etc is magical or made up enough I think.

WhickDittington · 09/12/2023 10:47

Um, birth of Jesus? That’s pretty magical thinking.

BrimfulOfMash · 09/12/2023 10:50

Eve of Christmas Eve Box!

With Eve of Christmas Eve pyjamas!

And hot chocolate which is so magical that it is never available year round, never at all.

Or….

Real snow. For people who live S of Scotland / below the snow line.

BrimfulOfMash · 09/12/2023 10:52

ANightingale · 09/12/2023 10:41

Revive the Twelve Days of Christmas and wow your kids with turtle doves, geese, maids-a-milking and of course, a partridge in a pear tree.

I like this but can we personalise to delete the Drummers Drumming?

BrimfulOfMash · 09/12/2023 10:55

We may yet enjoy the spectacle of looking out to see a poor man gathering winter fuuuuuuuuuu-uuuel. 🙁

ShowOfHands · 09/12/2023 11:10

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

Oh mate. You missed the tone of the thread. That's fine.

Just step away.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 09/12/2023 11:18

One year I made crackers and put little army men in each one. And we had a war across the table. We were in our 20s but it was still great fun!

Stropalotopus83 · 09/12/2023 11:23

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.

This. This is all I want for Christmas.

ThisIsntThe80sPat · 09/12/2023 11:42

The amount of people who don't get sarcasm😂

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 13:20

NuffSaidSam · 09/12/2023 10:35

How about the Fun Troll. She comes every night of December and leaves a fun idea for you to complete the next day like decorate a gingerbread house, sing some carols, come up with an idea for a new magical Christmas figure etc.

I like that. You could have a little idea that's wrapped up in its hands.

OP posts:
deplorabelle · 09/12/2023 13:52

Whoever suggested St Nicholas day is definitely onto something. But we ought to encourage children to go one better than putting out clean shoes, they should be new. Why should shoe shops only be a nightmarish hellscape in August? Every child in the land can be fitted again for St Nick and then wear them to school for Christmas jumper day.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2023 13:57

Ok op I'll play.

I'll take your magic woodcutter and I'll raise you...

The Robins who come in and decorate the our house. You go to bed and it's just a little wooden figure. In the morning your house is totally decorated and all that's left is a feather because the robin has flown off back to Santa.

See:
Obv the wooden robin parents buy
Plushie robin
Robin decorations
Robin please decorate here sign
Robin books about Robins adventures.
Robins friends who help him also available as plush toys
Robin the pc game where you decorate peoples houses
Robin the movie short where he gets into an altercation with Elf on the Shelf bit good prevails.

Original poster
cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 14:00

SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2023 13:57

Ok op I'll play.

I'll take your magic woodcutter and I'll raise you...

The Robins who come in and decorate the our house. You go to bed and it's just a little wooden figure. In the morning your house is totally decorated and all that's left is a feather because the robin has flown off back to Santa.

See:
Obv the wooden robin parents buy
Plushie robin
Robin decorations
Robin please decorate here sign
Robin books about Robins adventures.
Robins friends who help him also available as plush toys
Robin the pc game where you decorate peoples houses
Robin the movie short where he gets into an altercation with Elf on the Shelf bit good prevails.

That's fantastic.

Each day, they could bring a different decoration to the house.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2023 14:01

cakeorwine · 09/12/2023 14:00

That's fantastic.

Each day, they could bring a different decoration to the house.

Show quote history

No. She's flown off. Obv it's a woman robin.

TheLastParty · 09/12/2023 14:01

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.

When you chop down a tree it starts dying. Hardly a symbol of eternal life Grin

DappledThings · 09/12/2023 14:08

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

This has really gone over your head hasn't it?

mondaytosunday · 09/12/2023 14:09

Nope what else does there need to be? Santa alone is plenty. Make more stuff up leads to more disappointments later.

RedToothBrush · 09/12/2023 14:15

mondaytosunday · 09/12/2023 14:09

Nope what else does there need to be? Santa alone is plenty. Make more stuff up leads to more disappointments later.

I have to say, I think Grinch Day has a large target market out there...