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've said this on other threads I'll say it again, I don't see how it's a fad, I was a child of the eighties and on Christmas Eve we would go to the church carol service, come home DB and I would get new PJs, we'd all watch a Christmas film while drinking hot chocolate as a family, we'd do the mince pie, brandy, carrot thing for dad santa and then DB and I would go to bed. So the only difference is now people put the bits in a box. 🤷

I remember as a little girl I used to get new pyjamas on Christmas Eve, (I think it was originally so I looked presentable in any Christmas morning present opening photographs) and I have followed the tradition with my children over the last 22 years.

DC get new pyjamas and slipper socks, a magazine a drink and some popcorn to eat while watching a film. I reuse the box every year.

It does seem to have recently become very commercialised - like anything associated with Christmas, but all of my friends with children have also had a similar tradition for years too.

YANBU at all.

Why does everyone seem to put hot chocolate in the boxes? It’s hardly a luxury anymore!

YANBU op, it’s all gotten ridiculous.

"Some Christmas themed gifts really need to be given (and used) in advance of the actual Big Day"

Yep and my DDs and GD has November/December Birthdays, so I give stuff then, but also on the Advent.

If you are religious, which my DH was, Catholic and my upbringing was Church based, as it still was in the 60's/70's. Christmas isn't a Day, it's a Season with a series of events.

I don't do an Advent Calendar now, but I still have an Advent candle.

When I was a kid some time ago our stockings contained only edibles - choc coins, nuts in shell, tangerines, but no toys. Why fill them with plastic tat now? Shouldn't stuff like that be in the actual presents if you feel the need to buy it?

I’ve only ever come across it on MN, fortunately and only in the last couple of years.

We usually watch a Christmas film with the DC on Christmas Eve, and then read The Night Before Christmas together. Hot chocolate usually involved as well. But we don’t see the need to put these things in a special box.

mrsstroman

I think people feel happier calling it a fad

Post after post on the other thread saying some famillies have done it for donkeys years and there are still posts saying its a new fad

Having said that it happens on the Halloween threads and the 'Xmas ' ones

You don't need to buy much to

get in pj's, make some hot choc (mine with booze in thanks) and watch a film, read a book, make a decoration etc... Personally I think it sounds lovely and feel inspired to do this so thanks for your post!

Must we do this every single day? I really don't understand why this is an issue for some people. Either do it or don't.

I usually do one but I'm doing a 1st December box instead this year.

I am nearly 27 and had christmas eve box and a December 1st box every year as a child.

December 1st box had a few Christmas crafts, tickets to panto/santa steam train, Christmas videos and CDs and the advent calendars. They were just all brought down from the loft - with tickets added in at the last second before given to me and my siblings. Kept everything neat and together and provided a distraction for the 3 of us while my parents decorated the house.

Christmas eve box was new pjs, a new tooth brush, father Christmas' special plate and glass and the same book that my parents read to us every year. The Tailor Of Gloucester.
It worked as a way of winding us down and getting us ready for bed on Christmas eve when we were extremely yampy!

I think most families have those things any way, and having them in boxes, was just a convenient way of presenting us with the things they would give us anyway!

It doesn't have to be about capitalism all the time, the only things we got new were PJs tooth brushes and a ticket to an event in December.

Re advent calendars - they have reached a new low ... saw one in Sainsburys which contained pork scratchings, and said in large letters on the front 'Merry Piggin' Christmas'.

Oh my god and ive spelt your name wrong!!!

Sorry

FissionChips, that depends on the type you buy for Christmas Eve and your eating habits. If you do a fancy hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, that's a fair few calories and fat.

I only eat really good Chocolate, part of that is environmental concerns, so Chocolate is a treat. Mince pies are a treat, because I don't eat pastry, generally.

YANBU about the whole #trending of it as it can be an extra pressure on parents who already splash out but its not exactly extortionate if you're sensible elsewhere. Doing Christmas eve box with christmas pjs, santa bath bomb, hot chocolate and the night before christmas story book for DD this year. We limit the actual presents she'll get on Christmas morning to 1 toy, 1 craft thing, 1 book, 1 outfit, chocolate coins, a toothbrush and a Mandarin so it's not like we splurge lots on Christmas. Even including the Christmas eve box, we won't break £60 on DD which is a lot less than some parents spend in the grand scheme of things. Traditions have to start somewhere - growing up we were always allowed to open one present on Christmas eve which was usually chocolate coins. If DD asks, just say Santa was very busy this year as you were just so well behaved and he wanted to save all your presents for Christmas morning. Alternatively just stick some hot chocolate and biccies in a shoebox and wrap it up with a wee letter from Santa telling her she's made it to the nice list but it's conditional on her letting mummy sleep in on Christmas morning.

If people have a December 1 box (what goes in there apart from an advent calendar??) and a Christmas Eve box, do they at least use the same box? I’m impressed with people having the storage for boxes used one day a year to put things in then take out again.

"I remember from a young age we always had a Xmas Eve box (I'm now 24). Inside would contain new PJs and food & drink treats for our Xmas Eve cuddle up on the sofa as a family. My grandparents done this for my mum and uncles too. "

That's different though because it was something your family did, and a genuine tradition, not something that's become commercialised and sold as part of the Christmas Package by cynical marketing men and women looking to flog yet more stuff to parents.

Nope never gonna happen here!

So don’t buy it then!!!!

Clothrabbit, the Advent was always traditionally celebrated. I'm Glad its coming back into fashion.

It doesn't have to be stuff, as such. It can be the plan for Christmas Events/Tickets/craft stuff.

I can remember Church Services on the Advent and them being around remembering that it's a season of goodwill, compassion and being of generous spirit, as well as gratitude.

We as children got a small gift. The Advent candle was lit etc.

Yanbu, okay it's been going on a while but it wasn't commercialised in the same way. I'm dreading DD asking if she's getting one when all her friends do... We're already opening presents the next day! I can't afford new pyjamas and a book when I've just bought her presents. This year she actually needs some new warm pyjamas coincidentally so I'm going to make her some nice fleecy ones and they'll be done around December 1st so can be a coincidental advent present for after we've put up the decorations. But a box, and all the stuff in it, the night before you open up a load of presents? She can watch Miracle on 34th Street and have mince pies like we always do.

So don't do it then. Each to their own, no one cares if you do or don't. I do pjs but that's all, I just time it so they need replacing at Christmas. No big deal.

I don't do the Easter bunny but I don't give a crap if other people do. Why the need to proclaim your lack of buying into it?

It's a lovely idea. We won't do it though as 2 of our 3 have December birthdays. Two birthday parties as well as xmas gifts are enough expense for us thanks

Now how sad am I just got excited about pork scratching in shop... Going to buy it now...
How can something my mum did 49 years ago be a New. Fad...

We don’t do them. We started the elf thing a couple of years ago and kind of regret that now so def not starting the boxes up and adding in more expense. They are happy without them, so no need. Also find xmas eve a real busy rush around so don’t think we’d have time for a film etc.