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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate the idea of Christmas Eve hampers?

307 replies

leobear · 15/10/2013 14:57

I know, I know.....Scrooge! But surely the magic of Christmas Eve is the simplicity of it, and the anticipation of what is to come. A hamper is really a big box of presents, and feels to me like overkill. But maybe I'm just a misery guts!

OP posts:

Mckayz · 16/10/2013 10:06

I love the idea of a Christmas hamper. We decided we would start doing it this year. I have my family traditions and DH has his that we both put into our Xmas. We wanted to also start one of our own and this is it. Even though we will do it on the 23rd probably as we have my parents for dinner on Xmas Eve.

NCISaddict · 16/10/2013 10:08

I will make an effort to take photos this year although we're the opposite,Ds with ASD will get dressed the moment his feet hit the floor, that's if he's put PJ's on to go to bed and older DS (NT) would happily wear PJ's all day. Dog will have to be walked before breakfast as we have to drive to proper walk and that ain't happening after lunch.
Also DH has an obsession with walking dogs properly before anything else, long may that last. Ours and the visiting lurcher cross will get a road walk later in the evening.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 16/10/2013 10:17

Thinking about a new decoration for the tree - for several years dd and I would go to local garden centre with massive Christmas display and choose a new tree decoration - usually a beautiful, sparkly angel.
Our tiny tree is covered in fairies and angels
It was a lovely thing to do together.
Perhaps DC could choose another one each this year? (if they haven't grown out of the idea)

niminypiminy · 16/10/2013 10:26

Actually that is something we do do - the DCs choose one new decoration for the tree a year.

It's not that I never buy them new pjs - just that I really have never heard of this being a Christmas Eve thing.

AbiRoad · 16/10/2013 10:44

Mine get new PJs on christmas eve. I find that it helps to get them into bed at a sensible time as they want to "try out" their new pjs. They dont get up at the crack of dawn to open their pressies either (unlike me - I used to wake up at 4am - they are a more civilised 7ish) and I wonder if having had a pressie the night before gets them satisfied enough to sleep a bit longer. Cant really prove the link though.
We also tend to watch a christmas film early evening (again part of trying to get them calm enough to sleep). If there is something suitable on the tv we would just watch that, but otherwise I buy one (but dont particularly bill it as a present for the DC).
It is all traditions, isn't it? Which I think are nice to create, and i dont think it matters if some traditions involve a bit of expenditure.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 16/10/2013 10:52

"It is all traditions, isn't it? Which I think are nice to create, and i dont think it matters if some traditions involve a bit of expenditure"

This.

Who cares what other people do for their own Christmas traditions. They are not forcing you to join in. I buy PJ's I don't go around screaming at my friends to do the same thing.

As long as your Christmas traditions don't include rogering reindeers then I say go for it, whatever makes you and your family happy.

LittleDragon · 16/10/2013 10:58

I'm starting the tradition of a Christmas Eve hamper this year for DS (aged 8) because, due to his ASD, he gets very overwhelmed on Christmas Day. Most of his presents for me will be in the hamper and will be stuff to help him settle down and sleep on Christmas Day and then I will get one of his big presents for Christmas day as well.

PlatinumStart · 16/10/2013 11:01

My DC are all primary age so my reference to snuggling is very apt

TigOldBitties · 16/10/2013 11:05

Ragwort, my teen and older DSs will not snuggle as such, not unless I launch myself on them, but they will sit down for a christmas film with a few drinks and snacks.

Usually they then go on a night out after either to a party or the bar/club down the road, but last year (think as it snowed?) they stayed up with DH and I to watch Bad Santa and drunkenly pretend to be Father Christmas for the younger DC.

There is zero religious aspect to Christmas for our family as we're Jewish so really a film in pyjamas then going out or having a laugh with ma and pa are their only experience of christmas traditions so they don't turn it down.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 16/10/2013 11:05

Anyway, nobody can beat my Christmas Eve traditions. The past eleven years, ten of which I've spent every Christmas Eve serving harassed parents and drunken uncles/aunts/godparents in a toy shop. Last year it was spent saying "no sorry, I can't ice 'merry Christmas to my wonderful little snuggly wuffy piggy bottoms I love you lots n jelly tots' onto a 4 inch high Santa Claus.

Rufus44 · 16/10/2013 11:09

amazing

Fleta · 16/10/2013 11:24

Amazing sounds special!

I love the Christmas bauble tradition - each year we have a new one chosed completely by our daughter. Usualyl the fluffiest, sparkliest she can find!

BearsBeetsBattlestarGalactica · 16/10/2013 11:25

Well I plan to do it this year as it will be the first christmas eve as a lone parent and I want christmas to last until they go to their dad's christmas day lunchtime.

Plus being in a hot country at that time of year it has never 'felt' like christmas to me. But I want to make the effort for me and the dc. I have become a bit more excited for it than I have been in, ooh 8 years or so. I want it to be special even if it is 40 degrees outside

Just the usual new pjs, hot chocolate, small snacks, dvd and book. Probably in one of those gift bag things.

So thanks MN for introducing me to the idea

Rufus44 · 16/10/2013 11:27

My children pick new baubles, but I don't let them put it on my tree, they have a tree in the playroom (dining room in a normal house) and a tree each in their rooms

I am slightly obsessed with Christmas trees

Goldenhandshake · 16/10/2013 11:31

The 'Elves' deliver a parcel containing new PJ's, character toothbrush and a Christmas DVD whilst DD is in the bath on Christmas Eve, only when she is in the bath though, they can smell the bubble bath and know she is nice and clean ready for her new PJ's

cory · 16/10/2013 11:42

Coming from a country where presents are handed out in the evening, I think all you lot who give out presents in the morning have totally failed to understand the joys of anticipation and delayed gratification and that your children will grow up into feckless loons -who will probably waste all their time on MN instead of reading Tolstoy--

just so you know

you are all responsible for the ills of the world- singlehandedly and en masse

Merry Christmas in anticipation

Rufus44 · 16/10/2013 14:44

cory that explains me!

Thank god....it's all my parents fault, the relief!

Merry Christmas

derektheladyhamster · 16/10/2013 15:15

I must be the meanest Mum, I make my children, shower, dress and have breakfast before the living room door is open (with presents in)

I also work on Xmas eve, along with DH, so a baileys in front of the telly is all I can manage

somewheresomehow · 16/10/2013 17:46

I bet this started in America, like all the other stuff ie baby showers etc

FreakoidOrganisoid · 16/10/2013 17:48

Birdsgottafly I do only buy my children pjs once a year. April-September they mostly just sleep in pants. By Christmas the previous years are getting bit short in the arms and legs so they need new ones. I could buy them in october instead but I like doing it as part of Christmas

indyandlara · 16/10/2013 18:28

Of course it didn't start in America. Lots of us have explained its a tradition from our own childhoods. I can assure you that in the 70s when my parents did it, it was not to be part of some American bandwagon.

I think it is quite sad that people are so dismissive and sometimes snidey about the traditions of others. I don't mock those who go to the watch night service even though they are not church goers, those who get pissed on wine when cooking the Christmas dinner or those who hit the sales on Boxing Day and so on. Just because I don't do it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with your family doing it. A cheap DVD, box of chocs and new pjs for the 3 of us is not hugely ostentatious.

halcyondays · 16/10/2013 18:34

Don't do one then. i dont do hampers as such, although I think it's quite a nice idea but we always get new pyjamas and a Christmassy book and have hot chocolate.

I think its quite helpful to have something to open on Christmas eve as I used to go nuts with excitement waiting for Christmas morning. And pyjamas are useful and it's nice to wake up in cosy new pyjamas on christmas day.

2gorgeousboys · 16/10/2013 18:43

My boys have always got new Pyjamas and either a Christmas story or DVD on Christmas Eve. Long before I knew about Mumsnet and we've never called it a Christmas hamper.

We go to church for a 4:30pm children's service then come home, have dinner and then they put on their new pyjamas and snuggle down to read story/watch DVD with hot chocolate and Christmas nibbles.

They get new pyjamas Christmas Eve as I like to see them wearing them for the photos on Christmas morning (I have OCD type issues with things matching - don't ask!) and always seem to need new ones.

They also get presents on Boxing day but these are not extra presents just some that I have reserved from Christmas day. We have never had my DSS on Christmas day so instead we recreate Christmas day on boxing day. We all keep a few presents to open together whilst DSS opens the presents that are from us and DH's family and therefore at our house.

Ragwort · 16/10/2013 18:45

we'll have to make do with the Christmas channel - what is the Christmas channel, never heard of it?

derek - we do all that as well, and go to Church before presents .

FunLovinBunster · 16/10/2013 19:59

i am evil and make child have breakfast bath and get dressed before she is allowed to open anything. Just call me Cruella...

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