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?

I don't think there's ever such a time of year when the disparity is quite so evident.

So why not focus on the expensive toys, tech, bikes, branded clothing that are actually the problem rather than a Christmas Eve box which can cost no more than a couple of quid.

Also to those people that give children christmas themed pyjamas on Christmas eve wont that mean hardly any use out of them? Also means they can't wear them during the build up.

I have to admit I do roll my eyes whenever I see people talking about them, but I think it's more to do with the kind of people that do them also often being the kind of people that are scandalised by people NOT doing this kind of thing as if it's an obvious, established tradition and everyone else is a scrooge. It's part of a wider culture of parents coming up with more and more ways to spend money on any special occasion and kids expectations getting higher and higher, and it's just a bit irritating. They also usually go on to describe spending something like five hundred pounds on each child and question whether their pile looks "too small". I appreciate that not everyone who does CE boxes is like this, but it's certainly the image that jumps to mind for me!

I think they're an ok idea but I would definitely use them to replace stockings, rather than in addition to, they serve far too similar a purpose.

Absolutely.

Most of what people do at Christmas is ridiculous and unnecessary, though.

In our Christmas Eve box we put the plate for Santa’s tipple and snack, our Xmas pjs (reused if still fit), reindeer antlers or elf ears, Xmas movie or board game; not necessarily new, we sometimes just use one we already have.
It’s more about getting into the Xmas spirit rather than extra gifts in our house. X

I’m sure you do lots of things I think are stupid. Live and let live?

@BeeDavis

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!

Im curious how you know they didnt exist?

many people think they are modern because THEIR family didnt do them but as me an several other have pointed out they have been do for over 30 years and I am pretty sure they existed in higher circles and other cultures even longer than that - I was watching a history piece the other day that made hints towards similar traditions done among a circle of rich people even during the great depression.

@DarcyParty

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.

This is obviously your decision, but if you're going to give your daughter some pyjamas, sweets and a film anyway, I honestly don't see what difference if makes if you present it in a box or not. If anything, a box you reuse every year is less wasteful than wrapping paper, a lot of which isn't recyclable.

I understand you didn't want your MIL to hijack the whole thing and you don't care for her taste in boxes, but this is a MIL issue, not a gift receptacle issue. It sounds as though you just didn't want her being involved and if she'd wanted to wrap the gifts in paper with MIL DID THIS written on it, you'd likely have found a box quite useful.

Everything's unnecessary. Why don't we just cancel Christmas?

It's not something I had when I was a kid as it wasn't a 'thing' then, but why not? It's not like expensive gifts, it's usually just thing that can actually be used on Christmas Eve, like PJs, chocolate, a film or a game/book. You can probably fill the whole box for less than £20.

If you don't want to do it, don't. But lots of people like it.

@jessstan1

the tray for Santa's snacks, his magic key as we don't have a chimney, and reindeer food.

Why does Santa have a special tray for snacks and a magic key to get in, being as he does not exist, and what reindeer come round your way?

I don’t understand why he needs a magic key since he has already managed to get inside the house without using a magic key. Unless the magic key unlocks the next house he needs to visit, but in that case he has taken the next houses key with him to unlock it so won’t be able to leave it for next year and the magic key he took from the previous house to unlock your house is now in your house.

Can’t you leave him a magic key under the mat or a convenient plant pot, he can put it back as he leaves after he has eaten his mince pie, turned off the lights and locked up securely.

@viques he didn't come in already. The elf did.

Elf is sneaky and small and resourceful, doesn't need a key. Santa is fat from mince pies and can't be messing about on the busiest night of the year working out wtf he is going to do due to lack of chimney. Therefore, he needs a magic key.

It's just another gimmick designed to make us consumers spend yet more money.

Is there a definitive list of what we are allowed to buy our children at Christmas that isn't too Extravagant, Virtue Signalling, Americanised, Tat, Unnecessary, Middle Class, Crass, Pointless (have I missed anything?)

I mean... Fruit is full of sugar, Books are middle class virtue signalling, anything in SM is ' Americanised' (I'm not even sure why this is a problem), too little I Grinch like, too much is spoiling the children...

My social media shows all sorts of traditions... We have traditions. All the children have fun. I don't know anyone who goes into debt... I don't doubt they exist, but I know more who put money aside. I know many people who buy toys for the toy bank, and I know they are gratefully received.

Why does it matter what a family does or doesn't do. I never had a Christmas Eve box as a kid but I do it for my children as they enjoy it. If something makes my kids happy I'll do it no matter what other parents think. Keep your opinions to yourself.

They weren't around when dd was small but I would do it. She always had (and still does at 24) a new pair of pjs xmas eve so she looks nice on the photos.

I had never heard of a Christmas Eve box until I saw this thread. 🙂🙂

@Yesterdayforgotten

Also to those people that give children christmas themed pyjamas on Christmas eve wont that mean hardly any use out of them? Also means they can't wear them during the build up.

I give my DC new Christmas pyjamas on Christmas Eve and they wear them all year round, nobody sees them in their pjs after all.

But surely after 10 years of Christmas Eve boxes you will be drowning in mugs?

@WinWinnieTheWay

YANBU

Christmas Eve is wonderful and magical and I don't give my children a single gift until Christmas Day.

I wanted to do this but DH insists on seeing his parents before Xmas day and also that they see their grandchild open their presents.....

When I complained on MN about it detracting from Xmas day I was shot down and told that I was being mean not letting PIL enjoy seeing DD open her presents

So now I think bugger it and do a little Xmas eve box of Xmas pyjamas and some colouring to do and Xmas chocolate

@garlictwist

But surely after 10 years of Christmas Eve boxes you will be drowning in mugs?

You don’t get new mugs each time!

Actually, I'm not certain but I don't think anyone else in my family knows that we do this in our house. I talk about it here because I talk about my love of Christmas on here a lot and am part of a group that plan things all year round for the season.

But I don't talk about it to people in real life - it's just something that we do in our house after we have closed the door on the world on 24th for roughly 36 hours.

And it's like ALL traditions for ALL holidays, festivities, occasions etc - you only do what suits you and your family and your circumstances; what lies within your own beliefs and values; and that you can afford to do without going into debt.

So we have a quiet Christmas Eve family box.

Others have takeaways and large family parties.

Others go skiing or to a beach on a holiday rather than spend Christmas in their house or with extended family. Or maybe with family, if that's what they like.

But everyone is doing what THEY want to do. And that is how it should be.

We don't do fireworks for Halloween - lots of people do.

We don't spend all our holidays drinking beer from mid-morning and needing a greasy fry for breakfast before spending the day sunbathing - but that is what lots of others like to do.

We do cook some turkey for Thanksgiving - because it is part of our traditions and we have a link to the USA - but we don't expect others do to that and I don't try to take the day off work because of it.

We don't buy new outfits for Christmas - either for parties beforehand or for the Day, because we have plenty of nice things in the wardrobes to wear again (and it's too much hassle to get something for DD - as long as she's clean and wearing jeans and a nice top, I'll accept it as she's not in leggings and sports top like the other 364 days of the year!!).

I do get my hair cut, regularly, as part of a general grooming routine. But I am embracing the grey and not colouring or putting in highlights. Is that not living up to societal expectations and pressures?

Everything can be taken to ridiculous extremes. Not just Christmas, or Christmas Eve Hampers.

Each to their own.

Do what YOU want - not what everyone else tells you that you MUST do.

@TakeMeToYourLiar

Each to their own?!?

We do a first day of advent box. It has all the Xmas books, the nativity set, the advent calendar and festive clothes in it.

That way they get enjoyed all of December before being put away for next year

St Nicholas’ feast day is 6th December, Epiphany is 6th January. That’s our Christmas period, and as a folklorist, I celebrate the month and all the traditions with glee. My children are adults now, but we still start with St Nick’s treats on the 6th with a bag including pjs, a book, sweets and biscuits. Tree up on St Lucy’s day... Each family is different, so are their celebrations. I don’t understand the need for spiteful comments.

"But surely after 10 years of Christmas Eve boxes you will be drowning in mugs?"

You reuse the same mug each year. Same goes for pjs if they fit, books, plates etc.

As a child we always got a Christmas box on Boxing Day ,, I assume nowadays It was because the adults all had hangovers and waned yo kept us quiet with some extra stuff

I prefer a few things 1st December. Xmas pyjamas, top, Christmas movies, Xmas book, craft and activity for the month leading up to Christmas