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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To HATE the whole idea of Christmas Eve boxes

400 replies

TeeJay1970 · 16/12/2018 19:40

Don't kids get enough stuff on the 25th?

My nephews and niece now think it's their right to have gifts on the 24th as well.

Where does it end?

Yes I know AIBU!
Yes it's probably been done on here already in the last few weeks!

OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 17/12/2018 10:31

You would be a touch worried if your child wanted something more exciting than a dvd

Reading comprehension needs a bit of work there Wink.

I said if my 4 year old was looking for more exciting winters evening entertainment than a DVD and books.

What do 4 year olds do on December evenings round your way? Parkour?

AlanThePig · 17/12/2018 10:31

I was born in the 70's and always had new PJ's and a bottle of bubble bath on Christmas Eve. I looked forward to it. New jamas, clean bedding etc.

I did the same with my DC's, though they weren't presented as gifts in a box, just handed new PJ's for Santa.

drspouse · 17/12/2018 10:35

Pyjamas worn for one night and then will be too small the next year.
Who says they are worn for one night?
We have a Christmas Eve routine, we go swimming to tire them out, we have a glow stick bath, and we have new pyjamas that are worn all year. And a particular meal (fish, followed by rice pudding).

HairyToity · 17/12/2018 10:39

Never bothered. Not because I disagree with it, but money is tight. With two children it'd be £40. My children don't know such a thing exists so don't miss it.

HairyToity · 17/12/2018 10:44

We always got to church on Christmas eve for Christingle. That's our little tradition.

drspouse · 17/12/2018 10:50

We are going to Christingle this year (and we also have some food to pick up that we ordered... oops it's going to be busy!) but normally it's on a Sunday rather than Christmas Eve.
New pyjamas might be slightly more costly if Christmas themed but they are definitely not only for Christmas.
(Pyjamas are for life or at least a year not just for Christmas. Sorryy...)

trancepants · 17/12/2018 10:56

Grow up. If you want to do your little Shitmas Eve box, go ahead. No one cares.

Umm do you have a massive comprehension problem? The whole thread is about how some people do care so much about people doing Christmas eve boxes. And the people who do them are baffled as to how and why they would care. If you didn't care you'd just be getting on with your life. But you clearly do care. Very, very, very much. And frankly, it's super, super weird that you do.

trancepants · 17/12/2018 10:56

Plus shitmas day sounds like an awful holiday
Personally I am hoping desperately for a Shitmas eve and a Shitmas day. I have an awfully shy but strictly routined bowel. And if anything disturbs my morning shit, that's it, I won't be going again for the day. And I just feel awful until I get to go the next morning. I can barely eat for the day and start making rotten farts by mid-afternoon. Christmas eve morning is super busy and Christmas morning is just insane, so there is a real risk of a two day back up! So big fingerscrossed for Shitmas for me!

MrsKoala · 17/12/2018 10:57

I think people who dislike the idea are coming at it from a point of having lots to do over the xmas. family, friends and traditions already. In my house my children have no family other than me and dh and my mum and dad. So they don't have lots of presents, no visitors (my parents come round on boxing day for dinner), and we have no traditions at all other than presents under the tree from Santa. Neither DH or I ever had stockings or anything else and Christmas is a very long a boring time really for the kids. Mine don't seem to be caught up in any kind of magic. Mine don't eat any of the nice Christmas food (they will be having hotdogs in dry buns for xmas dinner just like they have every day).

This year, in an attempt to fill the empty space that Christmas brings I have decided to do a Christmas eve box. It doesn't have much in it - Pyjamas (which we all need - none are themed), a second hand copy of the night before xmas which I got from Oxfam for £1 and a letter. I have decided to write a letter to my family listing all our fun and their achievements over the last year and telling them how loved they are.

I know it sounds mawkish and I do obviously tell them I love them everyday. But this week we have essentially lost FIL and I am desperately trying to make things as best I can with what I have.

So if you already have lots going on then I can see why it just seems like another faff and an excuse for commercialism. But don't think everyone doing it is doing it for some photos to put on Facebook or as an exercise in greed.

MysweetAudrina · 17/12/2018 10:59

Do people really feel under pressure to do a Christmas eve box? I know when my kids asked for an elf, I just told them that it wasn't one of our traditions but that different people had different traditions and reminded them of some of ours. I don't buy presents for my kids, their gifts come from Santa. Gifts from relations are given by the relative.

Because my favourite day of the year is Christmas eve I like to give them new pyjamas, bath bomb and hot chocolate as it relaxes them and I am not rushing around like I am on Christmas Day preparing food for extended family etc...

I love that time with them on Christmas Eve and they good to bed clean and fresh and relaxed and that makes us all feel good.

I can't honestly think of one tradition that another family would do whether it's a new or old tradition that would make me feel any of strong negative emotions that are being expressed on this thread.

New traditions are ok you know and they don't have to be about consumerism. Timing the purchase of items to fit a date is fine. I certainly am not feeling sorry for all those children who will be snuggled up with their parents on Christmas eve, safe and clean and being read to. you don't need new pyjamas to do this or anything new at all but it certainly won't hurt or harm anyone if you do.

Knittink · 17/12/2018 11:08

Wow, some people are really full of festive Christmas spirit Hmm.

We don't do Christmas Eve boxes or Elf on the Shelf, and I'm generally not keen on anything that's encouraging people to spend yet more, buy more disposable stuff or make people feel that they are somehiw not doing enough for their families if they don't go completely overboard at Christmas. For that reason, I've definitely been known to comment negatively about the boxes.

But having read the vitriol on this thread, I've changed my mind... fgs, where is the harm in a pair of new pjs (which obviously can be worn all year), some hot chocolate and maybe a new book? If I did that for my dc, I'd altogether still be spending about a tenth of what many on MN seem to spend on presents.

Lydiaatthebarre · 17/12/2018 11:14

New pyjamas and some chocolate or whatever on Christmas Eve sounds fine to me.

But a box packed with presents sounds totally OTT. Surely children get enough at Christmas and parents can think of something more imaginative to make Christmas Eve special than even more presents.

thereallifesaffy · 17/12/2018 12:55

Am so out of the loop! A Christmas Eve box? Don't think anyone round here does that!

piggybrownhare · 17/12/2018 13:08

I think I should clarify that in my previous comment, I was quoting another poster, who was responding (rather disproportionately) to one of my comments! These are certainly NOT my words, I prefer to be a little more positive than this!

((((((((("You sound like a joy, out of interest do you celebrate Christmas?"

You also sound absolutely delightful. Not sure what me celebrating Christmas or not has to do with you?

I don't get people like you. Are you seriously that offended that someone thinks the things you do are a bit shit, so you have to insult them?

Grow up. If you want to do your little Shitmas Eve box, go ahead. No one cares. But at least be enough of an adult to not sit and cry about it when not everyone thinks it's amaaazing and wooonderful.)))))))))))

manicinsomniac · 17/12/2018 13:11

I'd never heard of these until last year but I think they're lovely and am doing them this year for the first time.

Some people get their children X Boxes or stupidly expensive iGadgets for Christmas. Some people get their children stocking fillers that cost more than my budget per child.

So, I'm not going to feel guilty about a pair of pyjamas, a book and some hot chocolate with marshmallows!

famousfour · 17/12/2018 13:58

I’ve not heard of Christmas boxes but I did save some new PJs for Christmas Eve for my two. I’m not sure they would see it as a present really for those philosophically opposed. Never done it before but like the idea. Fresh and cosy. Had not really thought of the photo angle but then I don’t really instagram and like to think all my children’s Pjs are respectable :)

They are not Christmas themed FWIW. That said my two got Christmassy pyjamas as a present last year and have happily worn them ever since. Wouldn’t occur to me not to.

This is more time than I have ever given to thinking or writing about pyjamas...!

Purplepanda17 · 17/12/2018 14:01

I'm doing one for my son, just putting pj's, a book and some choccy Santa's in it :)

He can have the pj's on for bed and have a story for bed then :)

Annnnd the pj's will not be worn once considering I bought him some pj's for Halloween and he still wears them now, becsuse they still fit him 😂😂😂

pommedeterre · 17/12/2018 14:08

Mine get pjs and a christmas book from the elves on the 24th. It adds theatre, they wear too small pjs in Nov/Dec as I know new ones are coming and if I didn't do this they would get a book in their stocking.

Not wasteful, just something we have all enjoyed doing every year.

MadMadMad · 17/12/2018 14:09

We've always done new pyjamas but they were not specifically Christmas ones and I planned their clothes buying to reflect what clothes they would get at Christmas.
When they were little there was no such thing as elf on the shelf luckily so we dodged that one.

CoperCabana · 17/12/2018 14:09

Both my kids regularly wear their Xmas pjs from the last 2 years Xmas eve ‘boxes’. I buy big and they last well.

Katedotness1963 · 17/12/2018 14:29

Don’t like them? Don’t do them! Stop getting worked up about how others live their lives, it has no effect on yours....

Monkeynuts18 · 17/12/2018 14:40

I don’t do it but it’s no bother to me if others do. I do find it funny that people have been duped into making it a ‘tradition’ (?!) by a group of marketing execs, but then I suppose the same can be said for many things - De Beers and diamond engagement rings, etc.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 17/12/2018 14:40

My kids open new PJs on Christmas Eve so they wear something nice to bed (and look okay in the early morning photos on Christmas Day!).

It's not a Christmas Eve box, nor is it a present they have particularly chosen Grin, it's selfishly something for me really Blush

They don't get to open any actual 'fun' presents until Christmas Day and I would really like to spread them out a bit, but we haven't managed that yet.

blackteasplease · 17/12/2018 14:41

I love the way this thread has taken off!

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 17/12/2018 15:32

trance

My apologies...i was being very selfish anf thinking only of myself

I hope you have a very merry shitmas Xmas Smile