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Original poster

Did you get a Christmas Eve box as a child?

220 replies

purplertwirl · 16/12/2023 22:03

I didn't, no new pjs, chocolates or anything like that. Basically nothing given on Christmas Eve.

My DS is 4 and I've done him a Christmas Eve box for the last 3 years. It's always pyjamas, a Christmas themed book, sweets, a mug etc. Not much really but it still costs, and I'm starting to think it might be a bit excessive on top of the cost of everything else.

I'm wondering, why/when did these become a thing? I'm 26 so my childhood wasn't "that" long ago, but now it's pretty much the norm 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Doveyouknow · 16/12/2023 22:18

Nope and I didn't know anyone who did or who got new PJs. I grew up in an area where most people didn't have a lot of money though. PJs / socks / pants / hankies bulked out the pile of presents on the big day! My kids get plenty - we have Christmas books we read on Xmas presents eve but they are just on the shelf for them to read whenever.

margotmargeaux · 16/12/2023 22:19

No, and won't do it for my kids either, totally unnecessary in my opinion.

SabrinaThwaite · 16/12/2023 22:20

Nope. Neither did my DCs (in late teens / twenties now) because it wasn’t a thing when I (or DH) was growing up.

You could start a Christmas box filled with photos and Santa letters and cards or whatever you fancy that you add to every year and open up on Christmas Eve to remember Christmas past though.

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Christmas Events & celebrations
silvertoil · 16/12/2023 22:20

Give the stuff on 1st December when it can be enjoyed all month. And ditch the mug (one is enough.)

RudsyFarmer · 16/12/2023 22:20

I used to do a box when the advent calendars arrived. The kids weren’t fussed though so phased it out. This year they don’t care about the advent calendars either so time to phase those out too I think.

AIstolemylunch · 16/12/2023 22:21

no for me and no for my teens. This really has only become a thing quite recently, like the elf nonsense. Unnecessary extra hassle and expense I feel.

NuffSaidSam · 16/12/2023 22:21

I think it's a very new idea.

I really like it, but I think it should be a 1st December box so it's far enough away from Christmas Day to actually be appreciated and used.

I think new PJ's, a Christmas book, maybe a little craft set, advent calendars, some bubble bath, maybe some socks etc arriving on 1st December would be lovely and wouldn't cost much more than you would normally spend (assuming your kids get PJ's/advent calendars/socks at some point in the year anyway!). It could maybe contain a box of Christmas cards for them to write for their friends if they do that....just stuff you'd normally get anyway.

Original poster
purplertwirl · 16/12/2023 22:22

A 1st December box is a better idea I think

OP posts:
user701 · 16/12/2023 22:22

Im 50 so no but my dc have always had them (ds1 is 19). But I probably got the idea from mumsnet in the first place since I’ve been on here since before he was born.

furtivetussling · 16/12/2023 22:26

I'd never heard of it until relatively recently. DC in their early 20's and it definitely wasn't a thing when they were small.

Nor was that ruddy elf, thank God. We had Advent calendars, and an Advent candle that we lit every evening during dinner.

Itsuitsyou · 16/12/2023 22:26

@YetMoreNewBeginnings Your grandparents sound like wonderful people.

All2Well · 16/12/2023 22:27

Also the first time I can ever remember hearing about Christmas Eve boxes was on the Christmas Boards on the MSE forum (ironically) in 2009. A lot of forum members would make homemade gifts and hampers for Christmas and selling at Craft Fairs..."Snowman Soup", "Pots of Gold" etc...usually inexpensive.

At some point they started making Christmas Eve Hampers...usually recycling old things like Christmas mugs, blankets, books etc and adding a few extras in like new pjs, socks, toothbrushes, cheap Christmas DVD from poundland, hot chocolate sachets, popcorn/sweets etc and the hamper was for the whole family. It was meant to be done on a budget.

Before long it had morphed into something OTT. In recent years via social media, I've known people to hire "elves" from Princess Party companies to arrive on the doorstep with the Christmas Eve Boxes or Elsa, Belle in her Christmas costume etc...some of these involve the departure of the Elf on the Shelf...and these aren't wealthy people! Or the Elf on the Shelf leaves the Christmas Eve box having arrived on 1st December in a fancy ballon with the child's name cri-cutted on...

It's all got out of hand and overwhelming.

Looks like "perfect parenting" on the 'gram though, right?

qpdlurgak · 16/12/2023 22:27

Mobile phones weren't a thing when I was a child (well not universally!) Social media wasn't a thing when I was a child. We didn't have air fryers. Electric cars. Spotify. Amazon.

You catch my drift. The world changes. No one is saying you HAVE to do it, but equally, just because something has become popular today, by social media or otherwise, doesn't mean it is inherently immortal or unnecessary. Anyone banging on about IN THEIR DAY and calling people lemmings are just being reverse snobs. I don't know why anyone gives a shit what anyone else is doing.

IloveGPs · 16/12/2023 22:28

I’m in my 40s and we were always given new jammies. Not in a box though. My parents still buy me new jammies! Grin

I now do a box for my DS's and have for the last 15 years. I decorated the box myself (from Hobbycraft) and bring it out every Christmas Eve and my DC love it!

sunshineandshowers40 · 16/12/2023 22:30

I think it all started around 7-10 years ago. I am mid 40,s and didn't get one, we started elf on the shelf when eldest Dc was in reception and they are in Y10 now.

underneaththeash · 16/12/2023 22:30

My kids are 18.16 and 12. I’d never heard of elf on the shelf and Christmas boxes until one of DD’s friends 5 years ago asked where our elf was today.
the and year mumsnet went made about Christmas boxes.

I hide a few chocolate elves on Christmas Eve!

CatsTheWayToDoIt · 16/12/2023 22:32

I’m 43, always got new pjs on Christmas Eve so I looked nice in the pics on Christmas Day! I don’t do a box for my kids but they get new pjs before bed - and so do their mummy and daddy!

LouLou198 · 16/12/2023 22:32

No, they definitely were not a thing in the 80's Grin

eurochick · 16/12/2023 22:33

I really don't think they are the norm. One set of friends always does new Pjs on Christmas Eve. I don't know anyone who does a Christmas Eve box.

ItAintGonnaGoDownEasyIfItAintCheezy · 16/12/2023 22:34

This nonsense didn't exist in the 80s. Gifts were given on Christmas day, pre-gifts weren't a thing.

We were allowed to open one small present on Christmas eve evening though.

bookworm14 · 16/12/2023 22:34

Nope. No box, no new pyjamas (what’s with the pyjama obsession?) I didn’t even get a chocolate advent calendar!

MuckyPlucky · 16/12/2023 22:34

Nope. It’s just another stick for already-frazzled mothers to beat themselves with, and already-stretched purses to have to shell out for.

Dilutes the exquisite anticipation of gift-opening on Christmas morning.

Kids shouldn’t be being taught that all special days are synonymous with receiving consumer items and being spoilt.

….Whole thing is a shit con and a ludicrous waste of headspace / money / time.

Tbry · 16/12/2023 22:35

Definitely not , a kid of the 70s here and my kid in the 90s.

No Christmas Eve boxes or elf it’s all just commercialism to try to force you to spend more.

Newuser75 · 16/12/2023 22:36

Not a Christmas Eve box as such but we always got new pyjamas and were allowed to open one present from under the tree. I was a kid in the 80's.

My kids always get pyjamas, hot chocolate, a bath bomb and a board game on Christmas Eve.

Thisreallyisntmyproblem · 16/12/2023 22:36

Never come across it anywhere outside MN. It just seems like another opportunity to rinse parents.

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