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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:
Bobsledgirl · 17/12/2023 05:15

No. It’s a new thing. Another way for us to spend more money on stuff we don’t need.

Lookingforbikestorage · 17/12/2023 05:23

No Christmas Eve box here. I grew up in the 80s/90s and have two little ones. Didn’t even know it was a thing.

hoobanoobie · 17/12/2023 05:37

To flip it, did you have a baby shower? I didn't (gave birth in 2012), baby showers weren't a big thing around here then.
My sisters and I didn't get Xmas Eve boxes as kids. It's far more of a newer trend. 90s kids were a world away from kids now, more's the pity.

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Sceptre86 · 17/12/2023 06:16

Why does it matter if other people do xmas eve boxes? You don't put loads in anyway but if the cost is starting to mount then simply don't do it. You are an adult and don't have to do something you find expensive just because everyone else is. In your home you can set your own traditions.

AdaColeman · 17/12/2023 06:28

No, there were no Christmas Eve boxes when I was a child, you were lucky if you got a tangerine, some chocolate coins and a yo-yo in your Christmas stocking!
Christmas Eve boxes are a recent invention, within the last ten years I'd say, probably an American idea.

Lifeasiknowitisout · 17/12/2023 06:32

AdaColeman · 17/12/2023 06:28

No, there were no Christmas Eve boxes when I was a child, you were lucky if you got a tangerine, some chocolate coins and a yo-yo in your Christmas stocking!
Christmas Eve boxes are a recent invention, within the last ten years I'd say, probably an American idea.

This quite funny. Just a few posts above a poster in the US is saying they aren’t a thing.

I said posters usually blame the US for them.

and the box is quite new. The tradition isn’t. My parents aren’t British. But I grew up here. We did with no box. My mum had the same as a child.

Its literally the box that’s new.

FortheBeautyoftheEarth · 17/12/2023 06:39

no! My memories of Christmas Eve are 1. My mum hoovering in the house, getting Christmas food ready, dad playing Christmas music and maybe helping him make a chocolate log while he had a Christmas 'tipple' 2. Putting a mince pie, brand and carrot for reindeer out for Father Christmas. 3. Going to church late afternoon/early evening and then listening for sleigh bells on the way home 4. Checking my to see 'had he been yet?!' When we got home and he never had obviously..! 5. Being put to bed and being told I must sleep or otherwise, he wouldn't come!!
happy memories for me and no gimmicks of hot choc, marshmallows, a bombardment of new extra stuff such as PJs etc. It was the Christmas atmosphere and being with my family that made it feel special and then the anticipation of presents the next day. Kids these days are really treated as fragile little consumers who need constant treats/money spent on them in order to 'be ok' and I just don't think it's true, think we have forgotten what it was like being a kid...or maybe some people had different childhoods to me. I was happy enough! I do think we really underestimate how sociable and content children can be if you just make things feel special in little ways. Just ImO!

110APiccadilly · 17/12/2023 06:54

No, and I don't remember anyone else having one either.

We don't do it with our kids, though at the moment they're very young so don't tend to be aware of what others might have.

renthead · 17/12/2023 07:12

Christmas Eve boxes are a recent invention, within the last ten years I'd say, probably an American idea

The usual "blame the Americans crap" Hmm nope sorry this is one ridiculous tradition that MN can't pin on the US. As the poster above said, this is not a thing in North America. I'm in Canada where our culture is broadly similar, and if I mentioned the Xmas Eve box phenomenon to the school mums they'd have no idea what I was talking about.

soundsys · 17/12/2023 07:26

Not a Christmas Eve box but always got new PJs on Christmas Eve! (I'm late 30s)

AdaColeman · 17/12/2023 07:38

The usual "blame the Americans crap"
You'll be telling me next that Elf on the Shelf isn't American! Xmas Wink Xmas Wink

Maybe I should have added (Lighthearted) to my post! Xmas Grin Xmas Grin

TrashedSofa · 17/12/2023 07:40

We didn't. I only started to notice them in the last 15 or so years and only learned through MN that there are people whose parents were doing them well before.

onwardsup4 · 17/12/2023 07:40

40 and I always got new pyjamas on Christmas eve. I do the same for mine plus reindeer cone activity etc it really isn't a big deal and I don't have SM.
Not sure why people get so sneery about this topic lol.

BooBooBaloo · 17/12/2023 07:42

why/when did these become a thing?

Simple answer is social media one upmanship

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 17/12/2023 07:43

Nope, it was not a thing when I was a child - in fact the amount of presents some children got for Christmas was similar to what some get in Christmas Eve boxes now!

I'm a good bit older than you though.

Whiskers4 · 17/12/2023 07:44

No, I didn't know it was a thing until I read about on MN. Don't know anyone that does one

BooBooBaloo · 17/12/2023 07:45

Along with North Pole breakfasts, and the most ridiculous thing that I've seen this year....advent calendar presents. Yep some people actually give their kids present every day in December

iwishiwasonhol · 17/12/2023 07:47

Im in my 50s always had new pj on xmas eve laid out on my bed for after my bath,i cant even say it was for the photos as we didnt have a camera until i was 16 and got one for xmas ,my DD gets the same but hers are in a gift bag thats as old as she is

Amana · 17/12/2023 07:47

No. I didn’t, my kids didn’t. . They get enough, the pressure to provide is enough too.

I did buy them a Christmas Eve book as a bribe to get them to bed and calm enough to sleep!
The book was wrapped and left on their pillow. We’d cosy up and read them together.

All books are Christmas themed. They go from the nativity, to the Jolly Christmas Postman and through to Christmas, jokes, cupcakes and cocktails as they got older.
We keep them in a wooden crate and bring them out every year as part of decorating the house. Some gorgeous memories of their childhood Christmas favourites.

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 17/12/2023 07:48

My oldest sibling is nearly 50 from being a new baby she and all of us when we come along got new pjs. Now I give new Pjs and a new book before bed.

On Christmas day the kids get a stocking from Santa and 3 gifts from us plus a selection box. So overall I don’t feel it’s excessive.

WaltzingWaters · 17/12/2023 07:48

Nope, it’s a new thing.
I really don’t understand it though. If I start doing one for my DS when he’s a bit bigger and understands more, it will be a 1st December box so they can enjoy all the Christmassy bits throughout the whole of December! No way am I buying xmas pjs for basically one night that won’t fit again next Christmas!

Amana · 17/12/2023 07:52

FortheBeautyoftheEarth · 17/12/2023 06:39

no! My memories of Christmas Eve are 1. My mum hoovering in the house, getting Christmas food ready, dad playing Christmas music and maybe helping him make a chocolate log while he had a Christmas 'tipple' 2. Putting a mince pie, brand and carrot for reindeer out for Father Christmas. 3. Going to church late afternoon/early evening and then listening for sleigh bells on the way home 4. Checking my to see 'had he been yet?!' When we got home and he never had obviously..! 5. Being put to bed and being told I must sleep or otherwise, he wouldn't come!!
happy memories for me and no gimmicks of hot choc, marshmallows, a bombardment of new extra stuff such as PJs etc. It was the Christmas atmosphere and being with my family that made it feel special and then the anticipation of presents the next day. Kids these days are really treated as fragile little consumers who need constant treats/money spent on them in order to 'be ok' and I just don't think it's true, think we have forgotten what it was like being a kid...or maybe some people had different childhoods to me. I was happy enough! I do think we really underestimate how sociable and content children can be if you just make things feel special in little ways. Just ImO!

I agree with you. A shop bought mince pie, glass of whisky for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph - an a tea plate, left for Santa. Rudolph was so full he never ate all of the carrot ( teeth marks thought where he’d nibbled!).

Amana · 17/12/2023 07:54

WaltzingWaters · 17/12/2023 07:48

Nope, it’s a new thing.
I really don’t understand it though. If I start doing one for my DS when he’s a bit bigger and understands more, it will be a 1st December box so they can enjoy all the Christmassy bits throughout the whole of December! No way am I buying xmas pjs for basically one night that won’t fit again next Christmas!

See, I don’t even understand why we now celebrate ‘December’.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the celebration days.

Kids must be rung out by the time the actual Christmas celebrations start.

Fizbosshoes · 17/12/2023 07:58

Have I got the only children in the world where a pair of pyjamas often lasted more than a year....? (Because they had a few pairs and didn't wear them all year round anyway)
I don't think last year's pyjamas would have been noticeable or made any difference in a photo

CeriB82 · 17/12/2023 07:58

No. Its another gimmick parents allow themselves to get sucked into.

dont start.

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