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?

Sweet milky FILTH! Pyjamas that are nothing but senseless waste because kids outgrow them and wear something else in July! (But only if you put them in a box for opening the night before. They're fine if you give them in wrapping paper on the day.) A DVD that literally RUINS CHRISTMAS because KIDS THESE DAYS will never know the MAGIC of not watching a film and having a drink the night before! Mindless consumerism, but only if you put the stuff in a box on Christmas Eve! And there's TOTALLY NO CLASS JUDGEMENT!!!!

Yep - well summed-up!

If only the rabid anti-boxers would admit that what they really mean is "It sounds a bit tacky and maybe even a bit American and not very middle-class, and we don't do it in our family, so it's Wrong" instead of dressing up their prejudices as concern about landfill sites (when their own wrapping paper and eventually the loads of Christmas presents they bought will be going into the same landfill).

Im in my 40's and as a child I always has a new nightdress for Christmas Eve I carried on the tradition and still continue to give my now adult children new pj's and bed socks on Christmas Eve too. They are usually inexpensive cosy fluffy ones from Primark or Asda.

All my friends growing up got a new set of night clothes on Christmas Eve too but my partner who is not originally from this area thinks it is bonkers.

Each to their own. We do it, it is a leaving gift from the Elves before they return to the North Pole. It doesn't contain a present exactly but some nice hot chocolate, food to sprinkle on the lawn for the reindeer etc.

We have just made it part of the traditions we have, like having an elf on the shelf, that isn't for everyone either but my DC love it and are already talking about when the elves arrive. It just adds to the magic in my opinion. It is up to you what you do or don't do.

We always had our new pyjamas on Christmas Eve and that is something that I do with my children but it’s a total no from me when it comes to Christmas Eve boxes. Twee consumerism gone mad

This argument is ridiculous. 27 pages of debate about something nice to do on christmas eve that brings the family together

I've never done a christmas eve box but am starting this year, as DS has just turned 1. It will be part of our family christmas tradition. So yes, this year I've spent money on a stocking, a santa plate and a box. I have my old copy of Twas the Night Before Christmas. They will last throughout his childhood. It's not like I'll buy a new one every year! All that will be bought is some food and drink to go into the box, and pyjamas. I'm assuming a lot of you eat treats on christmas eve? And buy your children new pyjamas occasionally? So what's the problem if they go in a box?!

@FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue

I agree. Conspicuous consumption.

And don't get me started on 'Advent calendars' of cosmetics, alcohol, etc when 'advent' means the coming of Jesus, it doesn't mean 'here's an excuse to buy yourself lots of crap'.

I have a beauty advent calendar. It's my Brexit beauty stockpile. I had one last year too - also as a Brexit stockpile. And the year before!

I guess next year I won't have the Brexit stockpile excuse reason anymore.

"I don't see how she could in a hot summer for example, you couldn't do that with none Christmas themed winter pjs either. Surely you mean in the cold season only and not all year around!"

@Yesterdayforgotten what? You can't wear pyjamas all year round? I do as does one of my DC. The other will sometimes just choose either top or bottom half if he's a bit warm.

I don't see how she could in a hot summer for example, you couldn't do that with none Christmas themed winter pjs either.

You do know that lots of Christmas/Winter themed pyjamas are just made of normal t-shirt material like normal pyjamas, right? They're not all thick and fluffy.

QueenofLean - After this thread, I might even get a Christmas box, which we’ve never had before. It’s all of a sudden more attractive, now that I know how much it pisses other people off grin

Please start a thread about it so we can all compare our beautiful boxes and bounce ideas off of each other.

@myhobbyisouting 'what? You can't wear pyjamas all year round? I do as does one of my DC. The other will sometimes just choose either top or bottom half if he's a bit warm.'

I was referring to 'winter pyjamas' which are cosy/warm and not standard cotton pjs or there wouldn't be an issue with summer!

Ritasueandbobtoo9

'It just adds another layer of stuff that people are expected to do / “BUY”!'

Oh according to some posters nobody expects anybody to buy these boxes on this thread... I feel we shouldnt know about what others do and it shouldnt have become 'a thing.'
I have nothing against Christmas eve boxes and we are developing our own traditions as a family ourselves as my first dc gets alittle old and goodness knows I may give a small gift on Christmas eve myself one year.
What I dont agree with is the shops advertising Christmas eve boxes and pre made ones and it becoming so popular etc which spoils a perfectly nice tradition.

On a related note I'd managed to get to the age of 39 before ever actually reading or hearing The Night Before Christmas which is apparently a part of so many of these boxes.

Even after someone bought it for DC1 it wasnt until earlier this year that one of them spotted it on the shelf and asked for it. It's awful. It doesn't scan properly. Reading it was tiresome and I'm hoping it doesn't get asked for it again.

Mystery to me why it's so popular.

"I was referring to 'winter pyjamas' which are cosy/warm and not standard cotton pjs or there wouldn't be an issue with summer!"

Right. Well I suspect most people that are saying their kids wear them all year round haven't bought the highest thermal rating they can possibly find

@myhobbyisouting

"I was referring to 'winter pyjamas' which are cosy/warm and not standard cotton pjs or there wouldn't be an issue with summer!"

Right. Well I suspect most people that are saying their kids wear them all year round haven't bought the highest thermal rating they can possibly find

Absolutely

Two of my children dont have duvets, hot little beggers

I agree... did agree until I caved in and stupidly ended up buying a personalised box for my sons first Christmas last year. I'll keep filling it every Christmas eve but with nothing expensive prob just a pair of Xmas pj's, book and sweet treat.

@GlmPmum if it's only your child's second Christmas surely they won't remember it and you could just stop using it?

True, but I've now a box with his name written all over it in the loft. I don't mind so much the pjs, book and sweet treat.. might leave him a letter from sant in there too going forward, I won't be going mad though!

What I dont agree with is the shops advertising Christmas eve boxes and pre made ones and it becoming so popular etc which spoils a perfectly nice tradition.

So shops shouldn't advertise something that's popular? And traditions get spoiled when they're popular?

I kind of get what you’re saying - but I think if you have an Xmas budget you can either spend it all on the day or spread it out. I like the idea of doing one on 1st December though! Also you can make it whatever you want. For example if you’re religious it can include the Christmas story or things you put in year after year. You can make it meaningful too, such as paper to write down things you’re grateful for (for older children). A Christmas box isn’t ‘commercialised’ in and of itself - it is what you make it! My Christmas tradition is also a ‘Christmas box’ but the Christmas boxes that go to children (or adults) in need. There are loads of schemes, in the UK and abroad so if you hate the Christmas Eve boxes so much why not do one of those instead and spread some joy! I am helping my son put one together every year for a child his own age, and will do the same with baby number 2.

'Right. Well I suspect most people that are saying their kids wear them all year round haven't bought the highest thermal rating they can possibly find'

Hmm well when people say Christmas pyjamas most people would think warm ones or those onesies that are all a thing atm so I'm not unusual for thinking that but thanks for that.

Wishing14

'My Christmas tradition is also a ‘Christmas box’ but the Christmas boxes that go to children (or adults) in need. There are loads of schemes, in the UK...'

That's lovely, yes we do a wrap a shoe box one too for the homeless.

I think they're unnecessary but I also love them. For me this was something cute to do with small children who were super excited. But now they're older will probably bin the idea.

Live and let live though, I can see both sides on this one.

I grew up in the 80s and we always got to open one present Christmas Eve which was always PJs! I’ve always done this with my own kids too. They get a bag Christmas Eve morning with pjs and chocolate.

Santa's elves leave pyjamas and dressing gown on my daughter's bed early evening every Christmas eve, she's 18 this year and I expext they'll be here again ! #keep the magic

YANBU
Our kids are grown up so I never even knew these existed. Must be a recent marketing invention!
Given that most kids are lucky enough to get presents on Christmas day plus a stocking, I really don't see why anything else is needed. Surely part of the fun of Christmas Eve is the excitement of waiting for the day itself?