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 never heard of this until this year and only on MN. When I was a kid we were allowed to open one small present on Christmas Eve, but it wasn't but especially for that.

A whole box just for Christmas Eve presents...

*wasn't bought

I always had new pyjamas - the whole family did - for Christmas Eve (in my 50s, so not a new fad) and have always done the same with my kids. There's not a whole box effort. Their Grandma used to buy them hot chocolate sachets, sweets and sometimes a new DVD because she enjoyed treating them.

Don't do Xmas eve boxes but do buy a Xmas DVD we all watch as a family.

I'm a sucker for nice pyjamas (four pairs would only last me four nights as I have to have them clean on) and bedding so I always get myself those. I love the idea of a wooden box that comes out every year as I treasure hand-made or - decorated things and have boxes for decorations for every season up in the loft.

Good grief - I had no idea ‘new pyjamas at christmas’ was such a universal thing. Hope DD doesn’t feel deprived as I’ve already bought her winter pyjamas...

I had never done Xmas Eve presents but last November we moved to a little village to a development of 50 houses. About a week after we moved in, one Sunday evening, a little scroll was delivered through our door. It was from a lady who lives at number X saying as usual anyone who wants Santa to visit their home on Xmas eve please deliver your present by 20/12 it can be for a child in the house or a visiting child like grandchild etc. I handed in 3 pressies and at 6pm we heard bells and music and going around our street was Mr No.X dressed as Santa, his wife as Mrs Clause and son dressed as an elf, pushing their sleigh(on wheels) and Santa was visiting all the houses with presents! It was lovely. DD20 was home from Uni and got PJs as did DD17 and DS4 got a toy. DS was delighted and it was very special for him be told to go to bed by Santa and he'd be back later

I have never before this week heard of a Christmas Eve box and will forget about it forthwith.

I saw a Christmas llama in T.K.Maxx on Saturday.

A Christmas llama?

Has anyone lobbed in the class marker grenade yet? New clothes and insisting on appearances for photos being a classic one.......just checking as I haven't read the whole thread but it's MN and hundreds of posts so......

I have never heard of this, except on here.

I’m 27 and always has Xmas pyjamas , book and movie with some sweets on Xmas eve
If you don’t want to then just don’t do it

It is new PJ's Christmas day or Christmas eve, so it is a lovely tradition (to us) to open them on Christmas eve. Had been forever. Helps settle down little.

I always got my boys new pj’s for Christmas Eve, we always watched a new Disney video on Christmas Eve and that was thirty years ago. I still have the Christmas books and the Christmas mugs that come out every year. My granddaughter now gets new pj’s and slippers and a oncie on Christmas Eve. Love to watch the polar express and start eating the quality street and drinking snowballs (adults) hot chocolate (kids) Santa only every bought one present to my boys as he only has enough room on his sleigh for one present for every child in the world!! It was never wrapped just had a bow & a tag on it. All the other wrapped presents were from family and friends and us. My granddaughter also has only ever got one present from Santa and a ton from everyone else. I really love Christmas but I prefer to spend money on going to the panto’s and going to Edinburgh to the Christmas market and the ice skating and the fair then buying loads of things that you don’t really need. Off the see elf the musical in two weeks time can’t wait!! Christmas is very special And u should do what makes u and your family happy!!

DS1 is 22 and it's something we've done since his first Christmas but DH also received one as a child and he's 52!

I think actual Christmas Eve boxes are a waste of money. You could get hold of a bright box, a book, pjs, slippers, hot chocolate, sweets and a film for cheaper than the ridiculous price they charge.

Christmas Eve pyjamas are a tradition in my house though, always has been. I always thought everyone did it until I went to university. I like it though.

Do what makes you happy 😀 I do think though you could probably get more stuff, at a better quality, if you made your own boxes up. More effort yeah, but you could also tailor it to your kids personality, eg their favourite sweets, their favourite film, character pyjamas etc.

THIS.... I don't consider it new either. I'm in my 40s and my parents done it for me and my brothers. I now do it for my children it's whatever you want to do as a family.
There are no rules to follow.

We use same Xmas eve box every year and they're perfect for keeping the naice baubles safe during rest of year. So certainly not waste of money.

I love Christmas 🎄 id never heard of Christmas Eve pjs but we did it for first time last year. They had pjs, book, chocolates and mug and they loved it. This year I’m planning on December 1st bag, with advent calendar and festive things as they will love it and it spreads the excitement and will get better use out of things.

I only heard of them a few years ago since the rise of social media and family bloggers/vloggers.
I’ve got mixed feelings about them. They seem like quite a sweet idea but also a bit of a pain in the arse.

Mind you I never had a stocking growing up either. It’s something I’ve considered doing for my family as an adult, but again it just turned out to be a pain in the arse.

I am surprised that pyjamas are such a 'thing'! Do people actually wear them all day? I thought Christmas Day was a time for dressing in your best clothes!

I cannot belive that people arw so surprised that people do christmas differently to each other...

No one family is the same, why is this such a "shock" to reasonable adults?

Do the whole Christmas season however works best for you and your family.. and don't judge or pick at how other people do theirs.... it isn't difficult.

I have only ever heard of any of this bollocks on here. I am 52.

I have never done Christmas Eve boxes and never will. All presents given and opened on Christmas Day here.

Fortunately I have only read about it on here and don’t know anyone who does it.

I honestly can't understand why it annoys people so much. It's proper weird .

Never heard of this Box..lol...but my kids have always been able to open one present on X.Eve usually Pj's, Annual or DVD to watch...but Me & DH for last 30 years, have always opened ALL our Xmas presents on Xmas Eve (around 11pm onwards) We buy each other a few nice gifts and get to open in peace with a glass of bubbly..Then it's all about the children in the morning. Followed by the usual mad dash for us all to get ready to go out for Xmas dinner with family etc. Our Kids do give us a gift each too.... which we open once they have finished theirs. Works for us... Follow my own Fad I think...It works for us.