to refuse to buy into the "Christmas Eve Box" fad?

[HearMeSnore]

I mean, when did this shit start? I never heard of it until this year but now I keep hearing about it in every shop as if it's as essential a part of Christmas as trees and turkeys.

Fortunately it doesn't seem to have made it into DD's hearing yet but I'm dreading being asked "will I get a Christmas Eve box this year?" as if I wasn't already spending most of the Christmas budget on her actual presents.

I'm not a "bah! humbug!" person. I love Christmas. But this is just unashamed capitalist exploitation. Like when the greeting cards industry tries to introduce "secretary's day" and shit like that.

Seriously. Can we make some kind of pact to not do it? Make it die a death before it catches on and we're all pressured into buying even more crap that nobody needs?

I have never done xmas eve boxes but knew they were around since i had my 1st 7 years ago.

I created 1st Dec box in my house when the boys were 4&3 and started to get in to xmas properly....saw someone else post up thread this is a thing! I thought i made it up lol!
Litrally, i found a fancy box we got a parcel in, stuck in the kids advent calenders, xmas pjs and jumpers and some sweets and a few posh fireplace decorations I already had and we open it on 1st Dec.

It was part to get round not putting the tree up so early (youngest birthday is 17th so Dec is mad here!) - a way for the kids to recieve their advent calender and a way to get at least a full months wear from xmas jumpers & pj's.

Its all stuff i would have bought anyway - other than a few extra bags of chocolate santas or raindeers!

We had Eddie the Elf on the shelf the last few years but im thinking of retiring him this year - meaning i just cant be bothered with him cose im working more hours now and running out of kid friendly ideas!

We just do pyjamas - but we'd have to anyway as the kids do grow out of them!! We put on The Snowman - and The Snowdog and snuggle under a duvet on the sofa
No point whatsoever in giving kids special bathtime treats, new mugs for cocoa or more chocolate on top of what they will be getting!! It's a nice retro evening - favourite tea (egg and chips) the film, the cocoa, bed!! Excited or not, it means they know that Santa is watching!

Oops! Forgot about the Advent Calendar - but I guess that goes without saying!!

Done it for years, it’s just a box of favourite films, books, bits etc. And a treat to fuel present wrapping! Have added extra kid friendly things in like picture books etc.

I started this 22 years ago, pair of pjs, coco some sweets and a book or dvd...I do it every year still. It’s certainly not a new concept

Sorry, but it’s just more bollocks!

I love Christmas with my large family but before long kids are going to be expecting some sort of gift everyday of the year!

Totally ridiculous 😡

We hide baby Jesus from the nativity until Xmas eve. Whoever finds him has to hide him again, been doing that for like 30 years, i am 31 lol!

I think any tradition is fine as long as it's enjoyable and not another empty token gift which there is so much of now i feel. Not into the xmas eve box myself but it's a sweet idea.

I would maybe feel inclined to do something on Xmas eve like that if Xmas Day was frantic with guests/non immediate fam. So we could do something just as a family.

I do it and I spend LOADS on it. Bloody computer games and a board game and a million sweets and all sorts.

It’s not Christmas until I’ve posted this exact same thing (must be 10 years now!) -

I heard about this idea when mine were toddlers/babies and thought it sounded lovely. Initially it was going to be one of those new pjs/book/hot chocolate deals but it quickly became a Big
Thing.

My DS2 was stillborn. He had a Christmas Day due date. To bring him into Christmas in a happy way I started the box and said it was from him. My other DSs think (thought, they’re too old to believe this now but they pretend for me) that their brother borrows some Santa magic to allow him to create this box and deliver it to them.

All year they talk about this box. The pyjamas are 'DS2's' pyjamas and they talk about him every time they wear them.

I don’t get to buy him presents (well, a new decoration for his grave) so I spend the money on the box. I go all out to make it amazing and I could not care less about accusations of keeping up with the Jones and consumerism and how I’m making entitled brats.

My DSs are the absolute best (seriously, no way can yours compare ) and I love doing this for them, for their brother, and for me.

I didn’t naturally come to this idea, it’s not a long held family tradition, but it’s as special as hell now.

except that now the stores are cottoning on - you can get a box for £10 - Personalised - what's wrong with a label???
filled with more tat - and you cant find homes for the tat the kids collect everywhere they go! Colouring books and pencils, plastic tumblers etc., etc. Where are we meant to store all of this?
Get back to our roots - serve them cocoa/chocolate in their favourite mugs, feed them their best tea and give them one special treat - the night is magic enough. OP - you have got this tradition nailed - we always do something special for Christmas Eve but don't be browbeaten into making it even more expensive!!
Buy your new PJ's in the sale in September for your kids - right size and store them all ready for 24/12/18 :-)

I think it's like everything else - taken to the extreme. We do it in our house, but small things in a reused postage box wrapped up in Christmas paper . Dh will get a bottle of beer, motorbike magazine (loves them but never has them because of cost), bit of chocolate and some Christmas socks, £10 tops; ds (age 4) gets sweets, activity/sticker book, fruit shoot & a festive dvd to watch together. It's a nice thing to do for us and is inexpensive. My friend spends £40-50 on each box.

OvO - you are completely making the Christmas memories include your DS2. Your children will grow up knowing that they had another brother - your idea is just amazing. So impressed with your strategy to keep this family member included every year - it's wonderful! So sorry you had to live through the loss of one of your babies, no-one should go through that :-(

Never even heard of it and I'm in my mid 40s. Everyone has their own little traditions and I don't see why people should feel pressured to do it if they don't want to.

Is everyone giving up stockings then? They’re so commercial now - you can buy pre-filled ones! And some of the stockings are £££ just for the 'sock'.

Or will you keep doing them as you like it, your family likes it?

It’s not like you or your great granny came up with the idea. It’s not a special only your family tradition. Everyone’s doing it. Such sheep, buying into this whole stocking idea. Won’t somebody think of the children that don’t get one?!

Thank you, user. 🙂

No Xmas eve boxes or elf here. It's like we're on a challenge to reach peak consumerism and I don't want to be a part of it.

The elf isn't particularly consumerist though. I bought a cheapy elf for €5 and this is his third year on the go. Other than that, no expenditure.

I tried to do the elf thing year ago but was struggling to get a cute little elf. I mentioned it to my parents to be on the lookout when they were out and about.

They bought me a 2 FOOT HIGH one 😂. I challenge anyone to do cutesy stuff with that! My DSs call it Evil Elf and make up terrifying stories about it. Apparently it’s a cannibal hence it’s huge size.

My maternal family are originally from Germany. Tradition there to open a gift on Xmas eve. My OHs parents moved to Sweden and they say it’s also a tradition there too. But we don’t do it in our household. Though when our LO is a bit older then I’ll do choccy and new pjs.

Haha we have a 2 ft elf too, he was too cute I couldn't resist! I take great pleasure in making up my Christmas Eve box I get so excited buying things to put in it! I make all my nieces and nephews Christmas mugs with hit choc, marshmallows and candy canes in. If people don't want to do it then don't but don't slate those who do, it does t have to be expensive either Home Bargains have some great things in, or make your own! It's the excitement if it all, have a bath open your box, the look on my kids face is priceless

I think the problem is that what is quite a normal thing for families to do has been 'social mediaed' and now made into a product and that is what people object to.
For what it's worth it wasn't part of my childhood but for my kids when they were young we started giving them their 'present from mum and dad' on Christmas Eve after a trip to the panto, not really sure why now, partly to split the two into distinct things and partly for practical benefits in winding down towards bedtime on Christmas Eve. Always with a treasure hunt to find them to add to fun. PJs and an annual and bath products and some combination of blanket/slippers/dressing gown/soft toy/mug depending on what they needed or would get most pleasure from. When they were young often there would be something that I'd hand made too. The peace afterwards bought me a soak in the bath. Christmas Day was one main present from Santa, a stocking and presents from family.
No one should feel pressured into adopting traditions they don't want, make your own Christmas and let others do theirs.

New pjs on xmas eve, so they look good in xmas day photos lol. Also some decent bubble bath (as i normally buy shops own), and bathy type things e.g foam, as i insist they deffo have a bath xmas eve.

It isn't a fad at all.

I'm well into my 30s. An 80s child and my parents did a Christmas eve box for me and my siblings.
It contained new pjs, bubble bath ( which really was a treat for us) the 'magic key' as we didn't have a chimney and father Christmas favourite glass and plate. Oh and maybe some chocolate coins and a satsuma.
It still is one of my favourite memories.
Getting the box, having a bubble bath, putting on new pjs and getting into a clean bed. All while the house smelled of Turkey as mum cooked it overnight.

I do the Christmas eve box for my children.
It isn't extravagant in the slightest. The key is the same one we had as a child! Vintage!
New pjs, bubble bath and maybe a DVD. I love it.

Oh and with regards to the box.

Our ones are wooden boxes that I bought at a craft market when dc were babies.
£7 if I remember right and they come out every year.

Your tradition is beautiful Ovo. And regardless of how much you spend is nothing to do with consumerism.

To me spending £2 on tatt you don't want and don't put any thought into because the supermarket/facebook pushes in your face that your kids need this is consumerism.
Spending £200 or £2000 on something that is meaningful to your family isn't.
It's not how much we spend on our kids but how and why we do it that affects their outlook. And your family sound wonderful. I too am very sorry for your loss and very moved by your wonderful way of handling your family Christmas.

I've always done my son a Christmas eve box. It's not unwanted crap though, it's an evening together. He gets PJ's, socks, DVD, hot choc a tree decoration and a good list certificate. I make most of it myself, it's items he'd be getting for our movie night together for Christmas eve anyway, just wrapped in a pretty box. His face lights up and it makes Christmas eve night very special. I love it and will do it as long as he lives at home - he's 6 so I've just been updating it as he's grown.