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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:
Pozz · 16/12/2023 22:37

TheSuggestedAmendment · 16/12/2023 22:11

No because it is about ten minutes old

This

I've been doing it for the past few years for DD but it's getting ridiculous and I'm wondering how I can reign it back in tbh.

Kona84 · 16/12/2023 22:37

No we didn’t get anything until Christmas Day- we would wake to a present on the bottom of our bed. And instructions not to come out of our room until we heard the Christmas music.
clearly my parents way of stopping the 4am madness.

I am not going to Xmas Eve box for my daughter- and I definitely won’t be jumping on this trend that is emerging of December boxes.
min my opinion it dilutes the magic of the day.
it really is just thought up by retailers and pushed by influencers.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 16/12/2023 22:39

Very recent thing. I never did them for my children. Youngest 26

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GuitarGeorgina · 16/12/2023 22:40

No, and have never done them for my own children (which they don’t care about because nobody we know does them either).

BCBird · 16/12/2023 22:40

Nope. My sister mentioned foing one for her 12 Yr old. Told her it was nonsense. We both in our 50s

DrJump · 16/12/2023 22:40

I do a Christmas shirt on the 1st of December. It means the kids all have something to wear to the Christmas parties, dress up days that's tidy and fits. They then get packed up in the Christmas decorations. So they often end up with extra ones when the decorations go up.

Zippedydoodahday · 16/12/2023 22:41

Nope and neither does my child.

I don't understand the pyjama thing. Are they Christmas themed? That seems a bit wasteful as they'd only get a few nights of wear and then they might be outgrown by next year. Or are they regular pyjamas they can wear all year round? But then what is exciting about that?

Happytoeatchips · 16/12/2023 22:42

No and nor did my kids who are now teens. Literally only ever heard of it on Mumsnet!

Whataretheodds · 16/12/2023 22:42

There were particular decorations and books that came out for Christmas, along with Christmas glasses and mugs, (earlier in December) that we would look forward to. But not gifts for us, it's the same stuff each year.

Once I was old enough to go to Midnight Mass I'd open a present when I got home but the rest were for Christmas Day.

LaurieStrode · 16/12/2023 22:44

Nope.

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 16/12/2023 22:44

No and I've never done it for my kids.

And we don't do Xmas pyjamas either. They don't wear pyjamas and I don't understand if Xmas pyjamas are for the whole year or just Xmas (which seems ludicrous).

SouthLondonMum22 · 16/12/2023 22:45

No but I did get things that are usually in a Christmas Eve box just without the box. The idea of hot chocolate, new pj's etc on Christmas Eve isn't new at all.

We do a Christmas Eve box, I think they are a lovely idea. They don't have to be super expensive either such as I'll put in the same Christmas book every year.

Pozz · 16/12/2023 22:45

I was warned against elf on the shelf thankfully - by a friend who was 3 years into it, all out of fun elf antics and desperately wishing she hadn't started it. So I have that to be greatful for! Xmas Grin

00100001 · 16/12/2023 22:45

Pozz · 16/12/2023 22:37

This

I've been doing it for the past few years for DD but it's getting ridiculous and I'm wondering how I can reign it back in tbh.

Show quote history

Just keep it to a Christmas film/hot chocolate and a book you read every year or anew book to read in bed that night after the film.

FreshWinterMorning · 16/12/2023 22:46

😆 No-one over the age of 10 has ever had one!

Original poster
purplertwirl · 16/12/2023 22:46

Personally I buy Christmas themed pyjamas

OP posts:
OwlWeiwei · 16/12/2023 22:46

My youngest child is 21 and it definitely didn't exist when they were small. It started to become fashionable when they were about 10. Elf on the shelf appeared then too. But I thought at the time, it wasn't already a tradition in our family, so I wouldn't start it.

Tbh, you could get a Christmas book from the library, buy new PJs if he needs them - don't have to be Christmassy, and tuck a hot choc sachet into last year's Christmas mug. You could make some small things like a Christmas hat for a teddy and add some very simple tree decorations like sprayed fir cones or a sugar mouse.

Itsamatteroftime · 16/12/2023 22:47

Not a thing until social media made it so and as a result some people feel they’re missing out unless they’ve done (choose weekly activity of choice from early/mid November) Christmas craft, woodland walk, Father Christmas trip, multiple pantos, wreath making, and cringey pic of all he family in matching PJs. I don’t want to see a pic of your partners in their PJs - that goes for celebs too, no thanks!
Do what you want for yourselves, but pressure to do this ‘magical’ stuff and then plaster all over Facebook and Instagram, is too much.

TheChosenTwo · 16/12/2023 22:48

No never. Never done one for my kids either, they’re 19, 18 and 12.
just stop, he was 3 last year and won’t remember if you don’t remind him!

coloursquare · 16/12/2023 22:48

No. The whole point of advent is waiting.

Footprintsinthesand · 16/12/2023 22:49

I didn't have one as a child, but I did have christmas bedding (the Snowman) that I insisted was put on every christmas eve. I think I was allowed to open one present as well.

I do a box for my children and I'll never understand why they generate such hate. It contains their stockings, Santa's plate and cup, the same book every year, the same DVD every year, some pyjamas and some chocolate. Hardly lavish. It's just a nice signal that christmas has officially started in our house. Maybe I'm doing it wrong...

jay55 · 16/12/2023 22:50

No.
I'm not sure how excited I'd have been for my stocking if we had.

We were only allowed stocking gifts before lunch.

Carpetdancer · 16/12/2023 22:50

Really?! Let us get Christmas out the way first Confused

Did you get a Christmas Eve box as a child?
Perfectlystill · 16/12/2023 22:50

purplertwirl · 16/12/2023 22:17

I wasn't even allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve, that was a straight no from my mum 😂

OMG same. No presents til after lunch!

We played with our stocking presents in the morning (and went to church if we hadn't done Midnight Mass).

The whole day was absolutely thrilling.

PurpleOrchid42 · 16/12/2023 22:50

It absolutely was not a thing, throughout my childhood. I'm 43. No one did such a thing. And no one wore Xmas pjs and rarely anyone had a Xmas jumper. So we don't do Xmas Eve boxes here, and don't intend to ever do that. Just seems like wasteful, unnecessary excess to me. The planet could really do without it.

That said, my kids have loads of Xmas clothes and pjs, but I only buy those on Vinted, so at least I'm doing my bit for the environment there 🤷🏼‍♀️