To think Christmas Eve boxes are absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary?

[dressinggownwearer]

Just that really. Do children not get enough at Christmas without giving them even more the day before?! What are Christmas Eve boxes even for/full of that can't wait until Christmas Day?! Am I being mean and a grinch or do people agree?

wow... ok grinch 😂

@LondonJax

I bought an elf when the Elf on a Shelf craze got going.

Then I couldn't be bothered with all the rigmarole of moving him every single day.

So for the past 7 years DS's elf brings him a onesie, a small Christmas type book or new PJs then pops off to help Father Christmas with his deliveries. DS would give him a hug, have a chat (no parents allowed but we would stand looking through the door as he had this very animated conversation with his Elf), then he'd go off for his bath and the Elf would 'disappear' leaving 'his' gift for DS. DS would have got a onesie or I'd have bought a new Christmas eve book to read anyway so why not from the Elf? The Elf would leave him a note telling him he'd be back on Christmas day and there'd be a little bit wondering what he'd be doing this year for Father Christmas.

On Christmas day the 'big' gift would arrive later in the day along with a very tired Elf who would hide with the gift. So we had a treasure hunt as Father Christmas would leave a note saying 'thanks for being such a good boy, oh and the Elf is back - do you want to play a game to find him?' with little clues like 'I'm safely tucked up where you go at night' - the elf would be on the bed with the gift.

The Elf stays in DS's bedroom during the year - often tucked up in bed with him. He's a much loved toy.

DS obviously knows the truth about Christmas now but the past two Christmases we've had to do exactly the same thing. It's part of DS's traditions now and it means a lot to him - it's the start of his Christmas.

So, no we don't do Christmas Eve boxes as such - we've just adapted our Christmas traditions to work with our DS.

I love this, what a fun tradition.

I also love this thread... such a comforting "normal" thread.

For what it's worth, I am planning to add some extra stuff to my xmas eve box this year, on top of the usual PJs and a DVD, since we won't be doing any of the things we normally do, like panto, santa trip or an xmas train. We'll do an activity at home instead (like xmas lego, or a xmas themed DIY build a bear. Maybe even both).

I'll also do lego/play mobil advent calendars on Dec 1st, and a new xmas book or two.

Fair enough to people who don't want to do these things. I love xmas, and like to extend it as long as possible.

I give Christmas pjs with advent calendars

I love the idea of building a Christmas Lego on Christmas eve!!

@07mam0918 my post was unclear and poor, I was refering to adults. Most kids wouldn't go near facebook...apparently that's for "old people". Instagram on the other hand...well, regardless of the age restriction etc loads of under 13s are on that as well as tiktok, but that's a whole other post!

@earthyfire to be fair, a lot of what I do is completely unnecessary and OTT when it comes to Christmas.

The only thing I keep tabs on is that I'm not buying things that won't be used or needed - so "tat".

But my kids enjoy the fun and they've no idea what their classmates are doing even if I do see some stuff on social media. I suspect our parents knew what some other families were doing too.

Bragging existed before social media it was just less in your face.

One of my best Christmas Eve treats was going swimming in Richmond Swimming pool.... One year I had the entire pool to myself.. Crystal clear smooth unruffled water...and the lifeguard gave me some flippers and facemark to wear...It was great.
Never heard of ''Christmas Eve boxes".

Oldskool glittery advent calendars ..Love those. Especially the old German ones that are re-issued.

We just wrap up some pjs, a book and a bath bomb (in the same paper as the gifts for his stocking because these are the ones from Santa), and sling them under the tree at some point on Xmas Eve afternoon when he's not looking (even better if the Space Station is going over, chuck it under while he's watching for Santa's sleigh and sprinkling glittery oats all over the garden). I have no room (or desire) to keep specially made boxes ... or Halloween boxes (but that's another thread altogether!).

Mine turns 12 the week before Xmas so I know he's just humouring me these days anyway.

I’d never heard of Christmas Eve boxes until I came on MN. Or elf on the shelf. Surely only a sadist would have started that tradition, and only a masochist would want to follow it through.

I agree I saw some advertised and thought thrybwere filled with a plethera or luxurious items for the price. nope £50 for a cardboard box with your kids name stuck on it

I started doing a Christmas Eve gift bag, 35 years ago. My DD got the newly released Disney DVD, matching pjs (M&S did them) and Christmas themed stuff. My DH would finish work at around 4 on Christmas Eve.

We already celebrated the Advent, because my DH was very Catholic. Then my middle DC was born on the 1st.

My DD does Christmas Eve boxes with my GC. The pjs are usually the Alderhey charity ones. Most of Liverpool get these. If Christmas themed ones are bought by everyone I know, they are worn or donated. I have friends from Nigeria and Zimbabwe and both say how much they rely on our donations.

Christmas Eve stuff doesn't mean that they get more than they would, it's just spread out.

I live with my Adult DD, we still do Christmas pjs. They tend to just be winter ones, tartan etc. We have Christmas throws that we use until February (Candlemas). I also take down the last of the Christmas decorations, Christmas rugs/bath mat, shower curtain, Christmas crockery etc. Then they are packed away. Again influenced by my Catholic DH and GM. I used to enjoy the Candlemas children's service in the Church as a child.

@IKEA888 if you're an ikea fan then you'll know that a box doesn't cost £50.

Cardboard boxes wrapped in Christmas paper tend to go down well, if you can't get to an ikea of course

When I was younger Xmas Eve boxes didn’t exist! We did get a pair of Pjs though for Xmas Eve which I loved! We had our own little traditions and I suppose the boxes are just a new way of having a tradition! I like the idea but I think as always people go over the top with what they put in them! Pjs a book and some hot choc would be enough!

They're just a marketing ploy to get people to spend yet more money over Christmas, aren't they?

I love holidays. I love festivals. I love celebrations. I love taking the time to do something special with my loved ones.
But when a new "something special" tradition systematically involves buying more heavily marketed stuff from a shop, you've got to ask yourself: who does this benefit?

For the record, our Christmas Eve involves lots of cooking and eating of seasonal biscuits, making last minutes decorations (usually from last year's Christmas cards and wrapping paper), listening to and singing Christmas songs, playing with the tiny characters in our nativity scene, etc.
Presents are for the next day. Quite frankly, Christmas Eve would be ruined if presents came early. It's all about the anticipation. Just like Easter eggs taste 10 times better when you have to hunt for them, and the money left by the Tooth Fairy is all the more valuable when it magically turns up under your pillow, after you've (finally!) fallen asleep.

I can see the utilitarian aspect of these Christmas Eve boxes, though: keep the kids entertained while the grown ups are busy preparing for the next day.

Then don't do xmas eve boxes, if you think they are a waste of time and money. No one is forcing you to do this.

I didn't do them for mine and won't now. I didn't do party bags at the end of parties, no one complained

I think it is yet another expectation of another thing for a parent to do. I think it is fine to give a small gift on christmas eve but only if you wish and if that is your tradition. I hate the whole 'oh I have to get my child Christmas eve box sorted' as actually no you don't. It is choice what traditions you want to carry out in your family and what you feel would be special or ott. I have heard similar panic about halloween boxes. Now could somebody enlighten me on what on earth those are?!

@TheKeatingFive
The same argument isn't made against holidays and the other things you mention, perhaps because there is not such a commercial pressure as at Christmas. It's shoved down your throat from, well now for months and is possibly the most exciting time for kids so it just all adds to it.
I don't think there's ever such a time of year when the disparity is quite so evident.

It’s just a tradition that some families have adopted. I suppose the new pyjamas look nice on photos of Christmas morning.

We used to go to our local independent to watch It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas Eve, then go for pasta and wine in the Italian nearby, before wobbling into church for the evening service, with carols. That was our tradition when the children were still at home; now we’re picking them up from the station at various times and we cook dinner at home.

When my boys were small 'Santa' would always come while they were in the bath on Christmas Eve and leave (wrapped but not Christmas themed) new pjs on their bed. They were always so excited when they found them.

And now they are 19 & 22 and we are still doing it, and it's still fun although I'm more likely to be putting them in their rooms whilst they are at the pub

It doesn't matter what anyone else does surely?

Before we went NC, my MIL instisted she was making me and DP a Christmas Eve box, even when we politely tried to decline. We laugh now, but she was super rude and pushy at the time. She was going to give each of us a big wooden box personalised with "DARCYPARTY'S 2020 XMAS EVE" kind of thing. What are you meant to do with that afterwards? Like most things/ gifts from MIL, it wasn't about us, it was about her, she wanted to show off to her friends.

DP and I are 28 btw

This year DD is 3yo and starting to get excited by Christmas so I might wrap up her xmas eve pjs, film and choc from the elf/ santa claus, but no useless box.

But when a new "something special" tradition systematically involves buying more heavily marketed stuff from a shop, you've got to ask yourself: who does this benefit?

A) people aren’t necessarily spending more, just presenting it in a different way

B) this is not new behaviour at all, we had new PJs at Christmas and a book 35 years ago.

Agreed!

I’ve always given my DC new pjs to wear on Christmas Eve plus some socks, a Christmas bath bomb for their bath and sometimes a mug, nice hot chocolate, a new film or book to read. I don’t have specific Christmas Eve boxes, I’ve just always done this and my eldest is now ten.