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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
cantspel · 15/10/2013 18:39

In my book everyone who has to work for a living is working class so unless you are living on the investments from your trust fund then fuck off with all the class crap.

I will happly spend my christmas eve in my new pjs, stuffing my teen kids stockings full of pants, socks and red bull whilst drinking a bottle or 2 of larger and dont care if someone somewhere else is drinking hot chocolate whilst watching the night before christmas.

Original poster
leobear · 15/10/2013 18:39

Blimey, I've sparked a class war over Christmas pyjamas!!! Grin FFS. Anyone can see it has nothing to do with class. Only on MN!

OP posts:
cantspel · 15/10/2013 18:41

leobear but with mn everything comes down to class. The whole bloody place is obsessed with it.

HardFacedCareeristBitchNigel · 15/10/2013 18:45

That's because most people on here come over as being terrified of being mistaken for the "wrong" class

Original poster
leobear · 15/10/2013 18:45

Oh yes! So true

OP posts:
FunLovinBunster · 15/10/2013 19:03

xmas eve hampers...sounds a bit naff to me.
perhaps I am a middle class cunt.....

BellEndTent · 15/10/2013 19:04

I don't see the problem with people wanting to make things lovely for their children at Christmas. I don't do a hamper but always buy new pyjamas and sweets or a film or something to cwtch up with on Christmas Eve. It's my favourite night of the year.

FreakoidOrganisoid · 15/10/2013 19:10

I do new pjs on Christmas eve for the dc (and usually for me becauseI love my pjs). We also watch a film together while I drink spiced cider. The children get excited to put their pjs on because they're new and think they've had a treat by staying up late to watch a film. In reality this is usually only half an hour later than their usual bedtime but having had an afternoon walk, then visitors and then sat all cosy watching the film they are usually ready for bed.

It's just pjs, unwrapped, from me not an elf Grin

I do put bubble bath, toothbrushes and chocolate in the stockings though, which is probably exactly the same as what's in a hamper, just given at a different time.

The term hamper makes me cringe a little though, no idea why!

moldingsunbeams · 15/10/2013 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

indyandlara · 15/10/2013 19:24

As a child I always got new PJs on Christmas Eve. Without fail. Now I do a bag with new Pjs for the 3 of us, a DVD, book, small sweetie for DD, nice box of chocs for us later and a small box of fizz. Nothing is wrapped. They are all things I would have in the house at that time anyway but it marks a winding down of the day and easing into the excitement. We open it about 4pm. I am never rushing about wrapping or building on Xmas Eve and food prep is done in the morning. If I was rushing about like a headless chicken my day would be ruined.

It's got nothing to do with class. Our daughter won't be bought ££££ worth of tat and unnecessary gifts. Why all the snidey remarks? Surely we should be glad that there are still people cherishing family time, regardless of how they choose to spend it?

MrsDavidBowie · 15/10/2013 19:26

I have never heard if anyone in RL having one.
In fact we must be the only family who never drink hot chocolate, snuggle under duvets and eat marshmallows.

Christmas eve we go out for an early dinner to somewhere like Cote or Strada, and then home. I refuse to cook more than I have to over the 3 day period.

Latara · 15/10/2013 19:28

As I live alone, can I make myself a Christmas Eve Hamper?

CurlyhairedAssassin · 15/10/2013 19:30

Sorry, not read all of thread. Just don't like the idea of new pyjamas on Xmas eve. When I was a kid one of the loveliest things about ChristmS day presents was going to bed in your new pyjamas, taking a new book up to bed to read, armed with nice new smellies ready for morning shower on Boxing Day.

Bah humbug to Xmas Eve materialism!

Wilberforce2 · 15/10/2013 19:33

Yabu we do this and it's building up to be a lovely tradition. We call it the Elf Bag and my ds5 think that he gets one for being extra good throughout the year. About 5pm Christmas Eve I go around the side of the house whilst my husband keeps ds occupied and then I leave the bag on the door step and knock loudly then run back around and I'm in the kitchen like I never left!

Ds absolutely loves it and it just adds something else to the excitement of Christmas Eve. His bag has new pj's, new toothbrush, sachet of hot chocolate, something to eat (normally one of those little chocolate lollies) and a Christmas book or DVD. Nothing major or expensive just some stuff to have before bed, we then use the stuff in there have a bath, pj's on, DVD or book and then into bed where I read him Night Before Christmas Smile All just fun and Christmassy, I'm not overloading him and he really enjoys it.

Editededition · 15/10/2013 19:34

Well. if we didn't know before then we certainly know now ...... there is only one way to celebrate Christmas! Each to their own!!
(and then we wonder why there are so many IL threads in the festive season)

Lifeisontheup · 15/10/2013 19:35

I used to get a new nightie at Christmas, I still remember the pink nylon one, I thought I looked like a princess in it, I also remember the backdrop of my parents constantly shouting at me to stay away from the fire. Smile
My kids never get xmas themed PJ's though, just primark cosy ones. I've also seen these slippers for DS1 www.clarks.co.uk/p/20350938
Are they acceptable for Xmas eve or would they be too middle class Grin He's 20 BTW.

dementedma · 15/10/2013 20:09

Haven't read all the thread but another one here who doesn't get the hamper idea and doesn't know anyone who does it in RL. Defi itely a MN thing along with that creepy elf.
Christmas eve is for me, Carols from Kings, chilled Champagne, lovely nibbles and a huge sigh of relief that all is ready.

fuzzpig · 15/10/2013 20:13

I read on another thread how some woman buys her children at least 100 presents EACH!

Link please?!

cantspel · 15/10/2013 20:21

I love those slippers and might just have to buy them for my son as well.

CaptainTripps · 15/10/2013 20:27

My niggly concern (and it is only a slight one) is that, as the years pass, this becomes common practice.

Then the kids start having expectations.

Then the pressies for the hamper will begin to get more numerous and pricey.

And it becomes yet another thing to have to think about.

Why oh why do we do this to ourselves?

Threalamandaclarke · 15/10/2013 20:32

I knew it would be worth reading this thread just for the usual MN class related chest puffing. Don't panic Hiacynth, you don't have to have one if you don't want it.
My DCs are still very small and we're building our traditions as a family, a mix of mine and DH's and our shared ones too. I am notoriously irritatingly according to DH unmaterialistic, and like to keep gifts to a minimum but I can have my arm twisted but I like the idea of a Christmas eve hamper. Pjs, hot chocolate, wine for me (when I've stopped Envy, a book "the night before Christmas" (just taken from the shelf to go in the box) and maybe a bath bomb if I'm feeling flush. I like the idea that it could make us all sit down and relax together. Sometimes I find Christmas eve a bit of a rush, with cooling, last minute wrapping, etc etc, there's so much going on and I think the hamper could just be a focus for some coming together and sitting down quietly.
Happy Christmas

Threalamandaclarke · 15/10/2013 20:34

For persepctive/ reference, I still can't buy a chocolate advent calendar. I love the picture ones.

Rufus44 · 15/10/2013 20:41

New pj's and a book each. The book stems from wanting to read them a Christmas story before they went to bed on Christmas Eve, I had to buy one as I didn't have one. Now it's habit.

HappyMummyOfOne · 15/10/2013 20:44

We dont do it as a hamper but always leave new pjs/slippers, xmas bubble bath, movie and chocolate for DS to find on xmas eve.

Also get nice treats for us when DS has gone to bed so we can chill and just have to unhide the presents at the last moment Grin

HappyMummyOfOne · 15/10/2013 20:48

We dont do clothes for christmas though as they are just bought throughout the year so DS would get new pjs and slippers anyway.