The problem with Christmas Eve boxes..

[andjustlikethisorthat]

Do you think they are pretty pointless?
I mean most give pjs don't they but what's the point of a new pair of Christmas pjs the day before Christmas when you can't get much wear out of them as my ocd wouldn't want to wear them in January 🤷🏻‍♀️

I gave in last year and bought a personalised Christmas Eve box but now I'm thinking of giving ds the box on school break up day so it's a little way off the big present opening day.

What's others thoughts on it? It was never a thing waaay back in my day.

I have no problem with what anyone does btw, just wondering on general thoughts

We never did Christmas Eve boxes. We always gave new pyjamas on Christmas Eve, though. A lot are more winter themed than specifically Christmas themed. We stopped doing it because they are all adults now, and don’t all wear pyjamas, anymore.

(In fact, it wasn’t just a family tradition that I would give pyjamas, it also became a tradition that I would finally be so relaxed on Christmas Eve that I would nearly forget to give them out.)

They don’t have to be Christmas PJ’s, this year my daughter has Stitch Pjs and my son has some soft cotton checked bottoms with a plain top. Just pyjamas for winter that they would have had on Christmas Day anyway.

Reindeer food (just oats, not glitter), hot chocolate bombs and a mini Lindt Santa each. Job done.

I refuse to spend money on gingerbread houses etc because it wouldn’t get eaten and just end up in the bin so to us, that’s a waste. Horses for courses and all that, it’s not compulsory.

Mine get a present to unwrap but it’s much the same as a box. Contains a book and new pj’s. Not Christmas themed ones, DS has a sonic the hedgehog onesie and DD a unicorn pj set.
I find it gets a bit of excitement out of them and to bed reasonably.

I'm ignoring the idea. DD understands that different families have different traditions and that ours doesn't include Elves on shelves and Dec 1 / Christmas Eve boxes. She's so excited about the Christmas lights, Christmas music, delivering cards, making decorations etc. that I don't feel like she's missing out.

She does have pyjamas that look Christmassy but because they're not specifically Christmas she uses them all winter (Hatley polar bear pyjamas and a tartan set).

I didn't do full on christmas eve box but always did PJs and a book for DS. He came back from his Dad's usually 8 or 9 pm Christmas eve (a whole other story) which was tricky but having the gift to focus on seemed to help him wind down a bit and have a bit of a routine leading to bed. He still really enjoys having new pjs on Christmas eve now he's at secondary school so I'll probably do it for DD this year too. I didn't always do Christmas PJs though, just whatever I thought he'd like. DD has some vaguely christmassy PJs but not full on Christmas. She'll wear them all year!

Mine get Christmas pj's on Christmas Eve, nice quality ones from next or wherever and of course they will wear them all year..why on earth wouldn't they?! They also get a bath bomb each or foam soap but that's it. I don't agree with gifts of books etc the day before Christmas as I think it takes away the novelty on Christmas morn.

My children wear christmas pyjamas all year round. So would I if I had some. I give no fucks if I am wearing a santa print t shirt to bed in July.

I am doing them this year for the first time ever as we’ve had a shit year which will continue into next year. I’m trying to give my kids any extra bit of fun and joy I can.

I’ve spent about £20 each on them, pyjamas, a paint your own santa plate each, a mug and hot chocolate and some colouring stuff and a few other little bits.

They can have them when we get home from church at 5:30 on Christmas eve and I know they will be thrilled.

plus, they needed new pyjamas anyway.

Traditions are for you to amend to your own families needs.

I used to put the box on Dd's bed just before we went out to look for Santa flying past (international space station) she thought he'd left it as he went by which was sweet.

I don't care about wearing Christmas PJ's throughout the year and we get dressed before opening presents but it was nice to come home from an evening walk for DD to have a bath, then changed into her Christmas PJs and read the Christmas stories book he left (the same one every year) and then as she got older to watch the Christmas dvd he left or stream something Christmassy and eat the Christmas snacks he had left or hea up some Christmas crumpets.

She's a teen now and still enjoys a Christmas box especially the childhood book of Christmas stories that then goes back in the loft with the rest of the Christmas decs in the new year.

We do a family present on Xmas eve. From "the elves" but not THE elf. We started this pre elf on the shelf. It's usually a box of sweets and a film, initially dvds then "voucher" for a film on prime.

Kids are older now so will prob watch die hard with us so we've bought a family outing for after Xmas as they don't need entertaining on Xmas eve anymore. We're going to button house (iykyk) DH has printed a voucher that we'll stick on the lounge door at some point on Xmas eve.

My kids get new pjs in their stockings....not Xmas themed.

You can go to Button house? Please tell me more!

I never get Xmas pjs - they are ones that can be worn all year round! Otherwise it's a waste of money.

There’s a Christmas Eve birthday in my family so that day is for that person’s presents. I guess if we were going to do a box of pjs etc we might do it on Dec 1st, but we just don’t bother.

I must be the only person who bought their DC new pyjamas when they needed them rather than just at Xmas.

Don't think my DC are deprived at not having had Christmas Eve boxes or 1st December boxes.

Depends what you put in, I suppose. Mine is a toddler so this year he has christmas books and a jingly bell. He won't think those are pointless! In the future I'll put things like books, hot chocolate, treats, activity things like a colouring book, or a box of cookie/cupcake mix. I wouldn't put PJs for the reason you mentioned. That would be given at the beginning of December if necessary to have some!

Out of curiosity, are you giving the same "'Twas the Night before Christmas" book every year?

I might be wrong but I think we are just talking about Christmas PJs here. I buy 'normal' PJs all year round, but christmas PJs would be given early December (probably on the 1st alongside the advent calender!)

Yes same one. Would be silly to buy a new one every year!

@Notafanofchristmas

www.westhorsleyplace.org/listing/category/filming-tours

I put in pjs, but not xmas-themed ones so they last beyond the season.
Also vegan hot chocolate & marshmallows, chocolates, a new game (this year is Elf on the Shelf board game lol).
I am generally against the idea, but i am a bah-humbug person, so I go with it as my daughter loves it!

@Anisette it's called The Night Before Christmas , is illustrated by Tony Ross and is a collection of short stories or excerpts from longer books including the Fezziwig chapter from A Christmas Carol, Elves and the Shoemaker, The Nativity, The Fir Tree, The Little Match Seller, A visit from St Nick.

I often put in other Christmas related gifts she's had through the years but hasn't finished like Christmas colouring and sticker books, Christmas wheres wally etc. She quite likes looking back at her colouring as a 2 year old and will colour a page and write her age on the page

@Makkacakka - yes I get that but it's so unnecessary to buy pyjamas for Xmas if they don't need them. Over consumption of clothing is a massive problem for the environment.

Or last year we put in red & green plaid pjs, so they were xmassy enough, but also generic enough for the rest of the year

DD got her Christmas pyjamas on 1st December - as it happened she needed some new warm ones anyway, and I knew she’d love the reindeer ones I picked up. She will no doubt wear them into next year, doesn’t bother me.

I actually wrapped them up this time - had the Christmas paper out anyway as was posting some gifts. And did a ‘special’ breakfast for December 1st too although it wasn’t quite as fancy as some people do - just pancakes and opening the advent calendar.

We get our box of special Christmas bits and bobs including crafty stuff, baking stuff etc out at some point near the start of December. I topped it up with a few new sticker and colouring books this year and although they live in a box I don’t particularly present it like ‘dahdaaah, your 1st December box is here’ - it’s just our Christmas/ December stuff that we will use throughout the month or that I can throw at her to keep her quiet whilst I load the dishwasher or whatever. We also have a basket of just Christmas/ winter themed books that comes out around the same time - used to do a book advent calendar and wrap them all up individually but she really wasn’t that bothered about it last year so saved myself the effort going forward.

I do have a few things I have put to one side as Christmas Eve is going to be a busy day when I need to do a fair bit of food prep - so there’s some more stickers and craft stuff and some dough and a few cutters - I was thinking things that would keep her busy at the kitchen table really. Whether I present that as a Christmas Eve box, or just whack them out as and when needed (and if not used they can just go in the stocking the next day) I’ve not decided yet.

Never done Christmas Eve boxes before but I got a couple of printed boxes in the sales earlier in the year so I thought I'd start the tradition. I've put in non-Christmas PJs, a book, hot chocolate melts. Maybe I'll get some activity books too.