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 agree. Although - we do give our DC their presents from us On Christmas Eve. It’s just not ‘in a box’. Reason? For the same you pointed out, they get so much Christmas Day with Santa and extended family, we want to spread it out (and not have our presents lost under a pile of paper!).

@LolaSmiles

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 shock 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). Which would be great, if some of us hadn't repeatedly outlined versions of christmas eve boxes thay we like (eg reusing the same plate for Santa, having festive mugs that are used each year, not short term use items or novelty items and general tat). That would be great, if some concerns about some festive things are also equally applied to Halloween and other increasingly hyped events where lots of short term use/poorly made tat is marketed for use one year and not designed to last.

What actually seems to happen is people express reservations about increased commercialism, the mass marketing of lots of short term festive tat and then a few posters are determined to turn this into some sort of class warfare (because almost any issue on Mumsnet gets turned into a class war).

Believe it or not having concerns about the sheer amount of crap that gets marketed for holidays and the amount of short term use/single use products that aren't built to last also goes hand in hand with trying to change my own buying habits, so no my wrapping paper and presents aren't inevitably going to landfill.

But don't let that ruin the 'mean snobby posters hate all Christmas eve boxes and are couldn't possibly have genuine concerns about consumerism and the environment' victim mentality.

But the boxes are just about the most modest thing you could do. No wrapping paper, and inside, stuff to eat, read, wear for months and watch. People have told you that they reuse a lot of the stuff year on year, including the box itself. It's been explained loads of times that people do Christmas excess in different ways and it doesn't at all follow why having a box means you're being more of a mindless wasteful consumer than someone who has a seven foot tree with blinking electric lights or two dozen unrecyclable crackers full of plastic shit. Waste might be a problem but boxes themselves are not. They're less wasteful than the rest of the stuff!

When there's tons of waste and commercialism all over the season, but you're choosing to focus on the thing that's generally cheap and gets good wear, but is perhaps perceived by some as less "classic" and "tasteful", one does have to wonder why.

Me and my brother, every Christmas eve, would get one of those little Bags of Gold that were actually tiny pieces of bubble gum and a comic from the local shop...that was perfect. We would make our own entertainment (usually taping our voices on an old Grundig player lol) and we didn't need a massive Xmas Eve box, our huge excitement for the next day would have made it pointless!
If we do anything this year though, we might make up a Christmas eve box to take down the school where theres a foodbank because they are being needed more and more sadly, and it would be nice to think of those with a lot less are getting a little something nice. x

You do you.
Our boys' lovely Grandma did a Christmas Eve tradition for our boys - long before Christmas Eve boxes were a 'thing' - new pyjamas, hot chocolate, marshmallows & a new mug to make it in.
My Mum used to buy the whole family new pyjamas for Christmas Eve from my birth - and I'm 53.

Let's just celebrate getting through this awful year with possibly more to come.
I'm only a churchgoer at Harvest Festival and Christmas...love the hymns and the cameraderie, the smiles and warmth from strangers.
It will be different this year but we can squeeze the most enjoyment possible out of the couple of weeks it lasts.
We watch Candleshoe and all the old Christmas films such as White Christmas and that one with Dudley Moore, not forgetting Chevy Chase in the one where all the family spend Christmas together us Cinderella the original Disney version.
So much to enjoy and the preparation is half the fun, even when things go wrong. 🤭😄

• plus, not us

Have never done this, my dc are now both in their 20s, I think it’s a silly tradition but that’s just my opinion and I couldn’t care less if others do it.

Growing up we did have a special Christmas even though but it was a reading of the Christmas story by candlelight as a family and some home made sweets.

That’s lovely but what’s the big problem with the book, candle and sweets (or ingredients for sweets) being presented in a box that suddenly would make it mindless consumerism and environmentally unforgivable?
PP was right, it’s the box itself that people have a problem with, even though it will either be wooden and used every year for decades or cardboard and easily recycled 🤷‍♀️

@Carriecakes80

Me and my brother, every Christmas eve, would get one of those little Bags of Gold that were actually tiny pieces of bubble gum and a comic from the local shop...that was perfect. We would make our own entertainment (usually taping our voices on an old Grundig player lol) and we didn't need a massive Xmas Eve box, our huge excitement for the next day would have made it pointless! If we do anything this year though, we might make up a Christmas eve box to take down the school where theres a foodbank because they are being needed more and more sadly, and it would be nice to think of those with a lot less are getting a little something nice. x

That is a lovely idea. I'm sure a lot of people who do these boxes also donate etc. My little one is small at the moment but as part of our traditions we will be including doing some charity work too. Usually I volunteer at xmas events where possible, donate to homeless shelter and also to the food bank. I also usually try to bring some charity aspects to presents be that buying secondhand items or charity based presents. I can really recommend a charity called lend with care. You donate £15 or more towards an entrepreneur in the third world who wants a loan to better themselves. You then have payments from them across the loan period and at the end can reinvest or withdraw the money or donate it. I have reinvested multiple times and it's great to see how many people it can help. Try it. Great gift too especially for those who you think might turn their nose up at a charity gift... they can wait it out and get the money to spend after they have helped someone out :)

Thank you thank you thank you I didn’t think there was anyone left with common sense. Total American shite.

@MsMeNz

It's just a marketing thing to get you to spend mor money. PJ's that only last half a season and kids may not want to wear past Christmas and won't fit the next year seems like total waste and adds to junk in the environment. If anything the last few years we have really scaled back the materialism of Christmas its got out of hand imo. Growing up we did have a special Christmas even though but it was a reading of the Christmas story by candlelight as a family and some home made sweets. I don't do that with mind though but there can be Christmas Eve traditions that don't involve buying more junk

It doesnt need to involve buying junk. Xmas pjs can be worn all year - you're sleeping in them. If anything it's consumerist to be so fixed on trends/seasons that even a child can't be seen in their own home in xmas pjs out of season, isn't it? There is also the option of just new non festive pjs which alot of people do and always have. We were doing new pjs in the 80s

Total American shite

Except it’s not American and it’s not shite.

Are people incapable of reading or something?

🤦‍♀️

@TheKeatingFive

I don't need to trick her into behaving. If she specifically asks for an elf that's different but I'm not going to use one as a parenting tool nor lie and tell her the elf is spying on her and reporting back to santa.

I don’t know a single person who does the surveillance thing.

It’s not a new thing anyway, it was always part of the santa story.

Really? I knew several who did that when I was on Facebook. I don't bother with it these days. In fact, it was rare for me to see anyone who didnt. Maybe it's a regional/generational thing? Who knows?!

I appreciate elves have always been a part of the xmas story but genuinely never been aware of elves coming and staying in your home until xmas being a thing. Which xmas story is that part of?

Classic MN . Apparently if you put things in a box on a certain date they become inherently evil consumerism, but if you don’t put them in a box, the same things are good and wholesome because they are “just” something we happen to do.

@GlennRheeismyfavourite

My daughter is only 3 so just starting out on new traditions but last January I put away any Christmas related books and toys and I'll get them out on 1st December- that way I'm hoping they'll be like old friends every year and special but bonneted first new things! Might decorate an old cupboard box together that she can leave out and then Father Christmas will fill it - again - all recycled/home made!!

This is a lovely idea

Which xmas story is that part of?

Who cares, stories grow and develop. Do you think the version of Christmas we treasure today emerged fully formed out of nowhere? Of course it didn’t.

Wtaf this is a thing ???

Christmas Eve box’s aren’t exactly a new thing it’s just marketed now. From been a child I always had new PJs on Christmas Eve some goodies and maybe a fancy plate to put Santa’s treats on, reindeer food and a little note from the big man him self. It’s nice for kids to have this my mam did it for me and I’ll absolutely do it for my kids. Much to DPs disgust we actually have family matching pjs Christmas Eve. Come for me you Scrooge’s!

I don't get why people get this upset about a small Christmas eve box. I see nothing wrong with it and will certainly take part when I have kids as it will allow them to participate in some small celebration on the 24th and allow me to share some of my heritage etc

@PurBal

You know, I used to work with some disadvantaged children. One of them genuinely though she was unloveable because Father Christmas didn't send an Elf on the Shelf to her house. It's fucking cruel. These things are not needed.

Tbh I have considered this myself re: Christmas generally. Elf, eve boxes, santa etc. But life is like this generally. There are always people who have and people who don't. The key here would be being kind enough to explain to her that this is a game parents/carers play for their kids, that not everyone does it and that it doesn't mean anything at all re: how good she is. I'm sure you did do that. My child is definitely not disadvantaged and I won't be doing the elf. If other people want to do it that is their choice. If my child gets upset because she thinks she is naughty because we dont do it I will be honest with her about it as I would with anything. It sounds mean but there are plenty of cruel lessons to learn about disparities in the world. It is part of our jobs as parents to ensure our children understand that and, when we are doing ok, spread that around a bit and be kind. If we shelter them too much it will come as a big shock later in life

@TheKeatingFive

Which xmas story is that part of?

Who cares, stories grow and develop. Do you think the version of Christmas we treasure today emerged fully formed out of nowhere? Of course it didn’t.

I was only asking because you raised it as always being part of the santa story and I don't recall that at all. I was interested to know which story as I wasn't aware of it and there's always an opportunity to learn. No where did I say that the version of xmas we have now came out of nowhere nor did I allude to that - in fact, in asking you where your point came from (I.e. which story) I'm pretty much acknowledging, aren't I, that things don't come out of nowhere lol

I was only asking because you raised it as always being part of the santa story

I meant the surveillance point. Be good, because Santa is watching you. A long established trope, before the EOTS.

But plenty of people don’t refer to that part of the story, just as they don’t give the elf a surveillance role either. It’s more than possible to adapt these rituals to your preferences. People do it all the time.

@TheKeatingFive

I was only asking because you raised it as always being part of the santa story

I meant the surveillance point. Be good, because Santa is watching you. A long established trope, before the EOTS.

But plenty of people don’t refer to that part of the story, just as they don’t give the elf a surveillance role either. It’s more than possible to adapt these rituals to your preferences. People do it all the time.

I see what you're saying. I appreciate that the santa seeing when you're sleeping and knowing when you're awake is a thing :) I'm not keen on that bit of it all to be honest which may be why I am not a fan of the elf as my experience of it has been that it's for reporting back to santa. Everyone I knew who did it before I left Facebook (and none of my family do it) run it as an elf reporting back to Santa thing. You can buy santa cams which come with them and elf report cards and all of that to tie in with it. I'm genuinely not sure what the point of the elf is for otherwise - why is it logically there if not to report back to Santa? That's why I do not like them. I also find the whole toys moving whilst you sleep thing creepy and as a very young child it would've terrified me if I'm honest and as an older child I would've thought it nonsense.

Obviously if other people want to do them and enjoy them that's cool. Whatever makes xmas time more joyful for a particular family I'm all for if it does add to the experience in a positive way

I agree.

I had never heard of them until I joined MN.

I'm not keen on that bit of it all to be honest which may be why I am not a fan of the elf as my experience of it has been that it's for reporting back to santa.

It absolutely doesn’t have to be, just as no one needs to push Santa’s naughty or nice list. Like I say, no one I know does that aspect of it.

For me, the elf harks back to the spirit of misrule and disorder that was very much part of the medieval Christmas tradition (see twelfth night for a good example).

You can take/make what you want from these practices.
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