Did you get a Christmas Eve box as a child?

[purplertwirl]

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 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think it's a relatively recent thing. We certainly never did as kids, neither did my DC. Just more expense in my eyes.

Totally agree.

I am convinced if it didn’t have a name and didn’t have a box, so many people wouldn’t be as bold to claim other people’s (especially from other culture) just didn’t exist.

The amount of people saying ‘it didn’t exist’ is unbelievable.

It definitely did exist, in this country, their family just didn’t do it.

Also don’t get the people saying ‘they get enough’. It doesn’t have to extra stuff.

It was youtube families that first drew me to them, although I have never done them myself (Christmas is costly enough as a single parent).

They have now moved on to the massive 1st December breakfasts, and some even have 1st December boxes.

I gave up trying to keep up with them a long time ago.
I only do what I can afford, and as my ex (their father) is useless and blows all his money on gaming, and they have no-one else to buy for them I am proud of myself for what I have done for them.
I started buying one of two things at the start of the year to spread the cost each month.

Before anyone jumps on me, I am not saying I hold anything against anyone that can afford to do that.
I'm just saying I have learnt to only do what I can personally afford, and my children are thankful.

The boxes as a marketable thing took off so instantly because so many people already did Pjs etc on Christmas Eve.

that seems to bypass so many people

No, I don't think the concept existed in the 70s/80s when I was young enough for it.

We got new PJ's, a book and some hot chocolate - not in a box. Pj's and book on our beds and hot choc from cupboard. 80's.

No it wasn't a thing.

We opened our advent calendar and got excited when it was a picture of a bell and it was an advent calendar that was at least five years old.

If I'd opened a present I'd have a size 4 shoe sticking out of my head now.
We went to my aunts and met up with our cousins and had a buffet and it was magical. First time I ever had Pringles.

When we got home straight to bed. No getting up before 8am. Presents were in the living room in a black bin bag. No heating upstairs. If we were very lucky we got to eat breakfast in the living room. We probably had one of my nan's to stay and on Boxing Day we were all out to another aunt unless they were all coming to us.

A tin of Quality Street as big as your head. A jar of Roses - a glass jar. Nuts that needed a hammer to get into.
One year my sister and I , after years of petitioning against Christmas pudding, got an Artic Roll to eat for Christmas afters.

No Christmas box, no new pyjamas - unless they were a Christmas present.
Three channels on the TV and an orange Fidelity record player.

Nope. Presents on Christmas Day, not Christmas Eve. I'm 56 so it would have been thought of as excessive and ridiculous. I still think that, but each to their own. My DCs are 19 and 17 and we always just did hot chocolate and putting out Santa's mince pie, Rudolph's carrot etc. Still do that. 😂

Nothing here on christmas eve, the excitement was enough.

I did do christmas eve boxes for my kids but this year i did a 1st december one - basically a book and new pyjamas and think it was better as they can use/read all month.

No, it wasn't a thing when I was a kid. I got new pjs and was allowed to open a selection box. I do that now with my own kids and don't do the boxes. They get a lot for Christmas so I don't think they need that as well.

No and it wasn't a thing when my dc were younger either. I do get them all Xmas pjs though and put them under the tree with a box of sweets for sharing, we always go out to eat on Xmas eve and when we get home they put on the pjs and we watch a movie.

Right, let’s just mandate that no one is allowed anything but the absolute minimum then. Christmas can be a regulation stocking including an apple and orange and a packet of chocolate coins. Children can have one present from the MN approved list of reasonably virtuous things for under £10.

or, maybe, it’s just never going to be equal and MNers can stop using the spectre of sad poor children to rain on other people’s parade.

Nope, pretty sure it didn't exist. It's getting ridiculous now. Too materialistic and kids are being overwhelmed. NT or ND it doesn't matter. It's getting too much now. The simple way was better.

Yes! But not a box. Gift wrapped new pjs, sometimes new bedding or bath robe, small toy or puzzle book. My mum said it was something to diffuse a bit of the over excitement.

I've always done all the festive stuff on the 1st, elf pjs or Christmas jumpers etc, maybe a game or jigsaw - whatever is required. Then non Christmas themed pjs or onesies on Christmas Eve, bath bombs sleep masks and a new family game.

The stuff is a mixture of second hand and first hand and I try and choose based on what we need, but we love Christmas and I love to spread it across the month.

I didn't as a kid though we were allowed to open one present after midnight mass
With my DC im not doing a Christmas eve box but they got Christmas PJs and jumper in a box on the first day of advent so they could get plenty of use.

Nope. My kids don't have them either. Christmas Day is for presents.

Have it more often. Life's too short.

An advent calender, yes.

Xmas eve box - such twaddle imo, just adding to the consumerism of it all.

Keep it simple folks. Your bank balance will thank you.

No I didn’t but then, I didn’t have very good or magical Christmases in general. We were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve and we always opened one from my Uncle because it was the worst present every year so we’d have a laugh at it. He’s a wealthy man but would always get us tight-fisted gifts like a tube of milky buttons or a nightgown 5 sizes too small because it was in the sale.

I’ve done Christmas Eve gifts for my DC since they were babies so for the past 13 years.