To ask what the hell is a Christmas Eve box?

[tallulahturtle]

Is this something people are doing? What is the point?

I've just been thinking about how commercialised Christmas is and how some people like to brag about how much they buy for their child/children. I'm all for traditions and making it a special time and love the thought of other families enjoying it, but for God's sake, why do some people feel the need to bang on about stuff like this all the time. These boxes are splashed everywhere at the moment. I don't do them because we do our own other family traditions. My kids have now realised that some kids get them and keep asking if they can open presents tonight. No, you bloody can't because I've stressed far too much making everything perfect for Christmas day . I suppose my point is if you dont do them then thats fine, and if you do, thats also fine (but please think of how your bragging can make other people feel annoyed as f@#k). Rant over!!

Never heard of it. What an absolute load of nonsense. As if Christmas doesn't give us all enough to do! I can barely mange to write cards, buy/wrap presents, buy/sort stockings as it is. It's hearing about stuff like this that makes me think just make this madness stop before I either have a full-on breakdown one year, or just wind up properly detesting this time of year. And call me a grinch if you like, I prefer, normal human being without limitless supplies of money, time and energy!

Maybe you just need to calm down a bit?

I send xmas eve boxes as gifts. I make them myself. Often its a newly released movie, hot choc and marshmallows, new socks for everyone and some sweets/crisps and popcorn

My friends have all they need and they love that I sort out their xmas eve for their kids as a gift!

Basically its a movie night in a box.

My DD(4) loved her Christmas Eve box this morning and has spent the day lovely and calm making the craft kits that I put inside (peg dollies, nativity scene and paper chains). She is really looking forward to snuggling up in her new pjs and watching Raymond Briggs Father Christmas this evening with a hot chocolate.

I put it all in a picnic hamper that I already had, but will consider buying or making a nice festive box for next year.

Where's the harm?

Why does this get people's backs up so much? If you want to do one, do one. If you don't want to do one, don't do one. What goes on in other people's homes really shouldn't get you that pissed off, whether it's a Christmas Eve box household or it isn't.

It's not something I do because we always watch films and have treats in the house around Xmas anyway so I doubt my kids would be bothered about a box. But if other people want to put stuff in a box it's not something I think is worth getting worked up over.

It is the bragging -

Look how many posts - OH in mine I put X Y Z - then along comes the next one OH and A b and C -

Then instead of a tradition it gets labeled as a must have box for Christmas - another layer to the festivities

We have traditions - we don't brag or share - we get on with them without making a big deal and making those who don't feel bad -

It's just another 'thing' to FB share

There is an element of bragging.

"Snuggle" has leapfrogged "moist" and "gusset" for ickiness.

Do anti-boxers feel this way about other Christmas stuff?

Do you think Christmas trees are boasty, money wasters, a trap? All that money on decorations, some are really expensive, it's so vulgar and boastful to post pictures of your tree on FB, you shouldn't even have one at all TBH.

AND if you buy a real one its just so wasteful. Consumerism gone mad.

But are trees okay because you have one and you like it?

It's not like your great great granny thought up the idea and made it a special individual family tradition. You lot are total sell outs.

I find myself wondering why I keep coming back to argue the toss.
Now I have board game instructions to read and understand, wish me luck! It's the start of Family Arguing time now, MN will have to wait.

PRovok - good post - one with reference to the topic - without bragging!

Do anti-boxers feel this way about other Christmas stuff?

A lot of it , yes. I don't put up a tree or decorations other than lots of white , red and green cut flowers- but there are always lots of flowers in the house anyway.

It clearly started because it was a family tradition in a few homes, was shared online in a 'this is what we do' nice way, others saw it and liked it so pinched the idea.

It has been around for many years actually

Dd needed new pyjamas so that's where our idea started. We got them a little cuddly reindeer I saw, a packet of reindeer food she'd made at nursery and a Christmas book. Was going to put in a DVD but we have Netflix so we just gave her the choice and some chocolate buttons. I bought a gift box from card factory. She loved it and I've mainly only bought stuff she'd get anyway. Plus it's made her settled early for the night.

Mine opened their box 3 hours ago - nothing posted on FB and no boasting

people really do need to calm down a bit and stop getting arsey over things other people do ffs

I haven't put anything on Facebook either. It didn't occur to me tbh.

The bragging goes both ways, though. There have been as many comments along the lines of "hot chocolate/ a DVD/ new pyjamas/ is an everyday thing, so wouldn't seem like much of a treat".

If "snuggling" counts as bragging, then I suspect that "there are always lots of flowers in the house anyway" does too. Or, you know, do different people choose different luxuries to suit their circumstances and taste.

I did one for 4 yo DD this year, Santa rang the doorbell and left it on the doorstep and she was delighted.

Hers contained new pyjamas and dressing gown, 3 Christmas books to read at bedtime, a kit to make and decorate your own stocking and a mix to bake ginger shortbread

Bragging...

Fair enough

Loads of threads on here bragging about how people have decorated their houses

What they are having for christmas dinner

About How they are decorating their new house

The fact they have a new house

To be fair the original post was "what is a christmas eve box"

So people are responding to that and explaining what their christmas eve box is

The only thing I showed on FB was the magic snow because it was cool!

I started a Christmas Eve treasure hunt when the children were small, prizes are always DVD(or Xbox game), PJ's and tub of sweets. The idea was to get them to bog off to their rooms so DH and I could get things organised downstairs.
Genius, thought I.
They are both now 20+
I still have to do it. There were howls of outrage when I gently suggested they were too old. Apparently this would ruined Christmas.
Be careful what you start

My wonderful dp has just produced a fabulous wooden sleigh that he has secretly made over the last few weeks for ours. Complete with jingle bells heralding its arrival. I bloody love him.

I completely cocked up the video for the family annals by managing to take a photo of Harry Potter on hold on the telly as he brought it in and a photo at the end of the inaugural unveiling and naming. Thus the whole event remains as a funny memory for us depicted in two shots.

In it are new pj's for us all and a new board game.

The point for us op is celebration of the season and doing something fun together, and yes making memories. For us, no-one else. Life can change in an instant, you never know whether you will get another opportunity to do these things, how life may suddenly limit you or whether you will even be here. My philosophy is to do what makes us happy, and do it our way just as others should do the same.

We did this for dd when she was a child, and she's 30 now, so it's been around quite some time. I know of others that did the same thing (waaaay) back then.

To be fair the original post also asked 'what is the point?' So this gives all us non boxers a bit to grab hold of and run with it. Or is this thread just for people who do them? I didn't realise MN rules were so particular.....

nat

Not sure if that is directed at me

I think people can say whatever they like on threads

I was responding to the comments regarding bragging