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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:
KenAdams · 16/12/2018 21:02

@Lonny we do that too

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/12/2018 21:04

That said, my friend had a tradition of having a small birthday cake for breakfast the morning of her children's birthdays. I stole that

Dd wants this for the day after her birthday this year

Her 16th was a dreadful day and she couldn't eat her cake

They ate it the next morning instead...

noodlenosefraggle · 16/12/2018 21:05

We are never at home for Christmas. (another story) so I do a box before we go away. They opened theirs tonight. It had some new pj's- not Xmas ones so can be worn after Christmas too Grin a bath bomb and some chocolate coins in it. Makes up for not having presents too open under their own tree.

BeanBagLady · 16/12/2018 21:07

One of my pairs of pyjamas are 13 years old Shock

I wouldn’t know what to do with a new pair every year.

What sort of box do people use? I haven’t seen any boxes in sale, which is odd as this seems to be another profit opportunity!

All sounds very nice, but I twitch at pyjamas being called PJs and am perplexed at the way hot chocolate seems to have developed some sort of magical —super twee— power.

CheeseAndBeans · 16/12/2018 21:10

Each to their own...
We do it, the elf on the shelf brings it Xmas Grin
Pretty simple though.

New pjs (not Xmas ones)
Santa plate and "magic key" (same ones every year)
Chocolate coins
Popcorn
Dvd
Colouring books/Xmas craft from Poundland
Stockings ready to hang up
A book for bedtime, this year it's the dinosaur that pooped Christmas.

The kids love it. It gives them stuff to do while I prep food/wrap last presents.

malificent7 · 16/12/2018 21:11

I think its fine if you have the monwy. I don't...i prefer to put my cash into a stocking..i have already bought dd 2 pairs of pjs this term so no point buying more.
I think a nice cup of hot choc is a good idea and a movie on netflix is cool....
I like the build up of excitement.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/12/2018 21:11

I cant be arsed to type pyjamas

And ive switched spellcheck off so im sure to spell it wrong (to be fair not even spell check recognises my spelling)

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 16/12/2018 21:13

Elf on the bloody shelf can FRO, but I'm warming to the idea of new pyjamas on Christmas Eve. Not in a box or with other stuff, but if it helps get the little angels into bed, where's the harm?

CheshireChat · 16/12/2018 21:13

I'm really tempted to do one simply because I come from a country that opened presents on the 24th.

But DS has already got aome
PJs for the 6th and he'd only like book from that list (no marshmallows, hot chocolate is hit and miss etc).

Will see!

LaurieMarlow · 16/12/2018 21:14

I think lots of people have done 'unofficial' Christmas Eve boxes for years. New pjs, a few books or a DVD, maybe a bath bomb or something. I don't think that's a big deal really.

And I don't get the objections to EOTS on the grounds of consumerism. Most people don't have an official elf (ours cost €5, is already a beloved family heirloom, no further money spent).

Kokapetl · 16/12/2018 21:15

I've started doing this. I put in new pyjamas (not Christmas ones, Dinosaur ones a size too big so they can wear them for 3 years!), a new sponge, a new toothbrush, and a few small toys or a book. It stops them asking for new toothbrushes early (I am not being mean, they have each toothbrush for 6 months changed on the 24th June and December, but they always want a new colour or character). Also they take days to open all their presents because they, quite reasonably, want to play with them once they are open. Starting early is useful.

EnglishRose1320 · 16/12/2018 21:16

Beanbaglady- but the new pyjamas aren't for grown ups, they are for children that are growing all the time. My children get 1-2 years use out of them.

Nixen · 16/12/2018 21:17

You’d hate me, I’ve bought a personalised wooden Christmas Eve box for my 3.5 month old with a my 1st Christmas sleepsuit, slippers and the night before Christmas book. If you have a problem with that I’m really not bothered, I’m just so excited to have a little one in our lives to introduce the magic of Christmas to!

Kokapetl · 16/12/2018 21:17

Oh and we do have Xmas mugs but have never bought one new, all gifts or from charity shops. It's fun to have something a bit different once a year.

LaurieMarlow · 16/12/2018 21:17

Just catching up on the thread. Why on earth would anyone assume the pjs are worn only once?

SheWoreBlueVelvet · 16/12/2018 21:20

Matalan and the Pound shop do Christmas Eve boxes.

I don't think new pajamas on Christmas Eve every year has anything to do with " children grow". They grow at other times too which is when you buy new ones. It's a tradition that is just a reason to buy more stuff.
Hot chocolate is available freely for most of the year at mine and sweets chocolate are out to eat as soon as school breaks up. Just put a carrot and a mince pie out. It's Christmas Eve, best night ever without a bloody box/ hamper.

HarleyQuinnxx · 16/12/2018 21:20

I hate them they can feck off back to America with all the other Americanised crap we love to hate

LaurieMarlow · 16/12/2018 21:22

i don't think new pajamas on Christmas Eve every year has anything to do with " children grow". They grow at other times too which is when you buy new ones. It's a tradition that is just a reason to buy more stuff.

You just time the purchase of new pjs (which growing children need)to coincide with Christmas.

It's not rocket science.

SheWoreBlueVelvet · 16/12/2018 21:23

ONE person said they'd be worn once. Probably because they'd not heard of Christmas Eve boxes. Why is everyone fixated on that one post .

squeakywheelie · 16/12/2018 21:24

Just don't do one. If their parents get pleasure from making their dcs happy, what's it got to do with you? Think about something else!

pallisers · 16/12/2018 21:25

I hate them they can feck off back to America with all the other Americanised crap we love to hate

I'm in America and have only ever heard of them on the UK site MN.

LaurieMarlow · 16/12/2018 21:28

I also don't get why being American is such a crime on here.

See also Halloween. And that's not even American

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/12/2018 21:29

What laurie said

I buy new pjs at Christmas

They dont get them at other times of the year

Obviously if they shot up over the spring months i might buy another pair

But

A) thats never happened in my family
B) owning two pairs of pjs will not lead to the breakdown of society

CheshireChat · 16/12/2018 21:29

More likely to be an European import? So foreigners like me want to celebrate the 24th as well.

Plus, it seems to be a fairly long standing tradition anyway according to PPs.

Purplehairdontcare · 16/12/2018 21:29

Yanbu. For these simple reasons.

Family chocolates are opened on Christmas Eve, there are enough Christmas films on TV, and you give Santa and Rudolf, a mince Pie, a carrot, and a beer. Therefore a Christmas Eve box is completely unnecessary.

Stocking presents are from Santa and are to be opened first.

Everything else is from mum and dad.

That's how it should be. The end.

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