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?

Great idea! Why stop there?

One could have a Christmas Eve-Eve packet, as prelude to the Christmas Eve box,

and a Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve bag as a precursor up to the Christmas Eve-Eve packet,

and a Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve-Eve tray as a lead up to the Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve bag,

(They could all include Humbugs)

So don’t do them then. Problem solved.

Ours comes out every year with the same stuff in it. Santa plate, night before Christmas book, Santa key, Santa stop here sign. I normally also do pyjamas (they wear them all year), dressing gown (again, all year), reindeer food (normally made by them), and snacks for a film. It helps to calm them and gives us a sort of designated start time as my eldest struggles to process how time passes.

I agree and there was Facebook post about this recently where a lady was shot down in flames for questioning why Christmas Eve boxes are a thing ! Personally I feel they are an unnecessary extravagance.

@Coffeecak3

I agree but my dc are adults so it wasn't a thing 20 years ago. I don't think my dgs gets a Christmas eve box.

I’m 39 and we always had a Christmas Eve stocking growing up! Book, nightie and a matey bubble bath, and a pack of chocolate coins.

We used to get Christmas jammies at the start of December, invariably bought in the years January sales which is a good idea! I don't really see the point of giving them for just one night, I know you can wear them after, but I remember as a child being over Christmas PJs once the day had been tbh hah. Each to their own, as long as someone isn't putting themselves into debt to make one, which is a risk when it becomes a 'trend' and all their mates have one, then doesn't really bother me. We just watch a Christmas film before bed and then read a Christmas book, I'm more interested at where it ends, do we have Christmas Eve Eve box, does elf of the shelf expand throughout the year?

Oh I forgot about the North Pole breakfast. I am sure all these were only commercialised in the last few years with the rise of Instagram.

We don’t do them, but I can’t comprehend people getting so worked up about what others do.

I did christmas eve boxes 15 years ago for my daughters. (Not an actual 'box' but a gift bag with things in on xmas eve). I always got mine new pjs for xmas but not christmas themed ones, the rest of the things were aimed at getting two very excited little girls to settle down for bed as a single parent. After tea on christmas eve I would give them their bag- a small chocolate bar which they would have as dessert after their tea, new pjs to unwrap meant that my youngest wasn't asking to unwrap the presents from family that had arrived earlier in the day and were already under the tree, and a story book each for bedtime. No toys etc, just those three things. It became a family tradition and I now still do them a christmas eve treat - usually a mini bag with a chocolate bar and a sheet or gel face mask so they can pamper themselves a little before bed- these days it's just a nod to the tradition we had when they were little. I think the whole concept of personalised christmas eve boxes stuffed with loads of stuff and toys is ridiculous.

@ShebaShimmyShake

I'm less irritated by people choosing to stick a DVD and pyjamas in a box on Christmas Eve than I am with the fact that you've kicked this one off in bloody October. I know this particular moralistic castigation is irresistible, but why couldn't you at least do it in season?

If OP is anything like me she’s just spotted Christmas hitting the supermarket shelves. The standard fare chocolates are out and on special offer...the advent calendars are bustling for position. The every day items but in Christmas packaging are lining up...

This IS in season.

@lollipoprainbow

I agree and there was Facebook post about this recently where a lady was shot down in flames for questioning why Christmas Eve boxes are a thing ! Personally I feel they are an unnecessary extravagance.

Aren’t all Christmas presents an unnecessary extravagance?

This IS in season.

We don't need to encourage it!

I don't think the op was criticising or being mean just asking what others think, obviously a very touchy subject.

@lollipoprainbow

I agree and there was Facebook post about this recently where a lady was shot down in flames for questioning why Christmas Eve boxes are a thing ! Personally I feel they are an unnecessary extravagance.

What is "extravagant" about some pyjamas you probably would have given on the day anyway? Those aside, the things I put in mine cost £5/6 pounds at most and I think most responses on here are in the same vein.

@ShebaShimmyShake

I'm less irritated by people choosing to stick a DVD and pyjamas in a box on Christmas Eve than I am with the fact that you've kicked this one off in bloody October. I know this particular moralistic castigation is irresistible, but why couldn't you at least do it in season?

Apologies! I agree it is too early for these things and the reason I put the question up was because I saw an advert on Facebook for one which irritated me! I should have thought of the fact that me then mentioning it, would also make people irritated!

yep,
grabby,
consumerism.

Yes, it’s completely unnecessary but isn’t all of Christmas? Most of the items in there are things we’d be doing on Christmas Eve anyway, hot chocolate and decorating gingerbread men, and a lovely Christmas story. Don’t see how doing these things is okay if they’re not out of a box? We do have new pyjamas, but that’s because growing up my family was poor and in every Christmas photo me and my siblings are wearing pyjamas that are way too small for us because we didn’t get any new ones until Christmas Day.

I don’t like elf on the shelf so I don’t do it, but I understand why people do it and it does look like fun.

I agree, surely they get enough on xmas day. Although maybe it's more to give them something to do while parents are busy getting organised? I saw a thing about December 1st boxes where they get an advent calendar, xmas ornament for the tree etc, I think that's a better idea although still unnecessary really

Anything that brightens life is good surely?

I'm 37, on Christmas eve every year I got hot chocolate, new pjs, a christmas colouring book and a new book to read.

It's not a new concept at all its just put in a Christmas bag or box.

I loved it when I was little and carried it on with my children. I actually just put everything in a Christmas gift bag and give it to them.

I like making my children them but each to their own.

I do think each to their own but children talk to each other and it puts extra pressure on families who can't afford or struggle to provide Christmas at all. It isn't a lovely jolly time for everyone.

Then the kids who already know they are different are left thinking, why don't I have an elf or a box or whatever and the parents have more guilt.

Every single holiday seem to be becoming more and more overblown. Personally, I think it's too much.

@popcorndiva

Oh I forgot about the North Pole breakfast. I am sure all these were only commercialised in the last few years with the rise of Instagram.

What's a North Pole breakfast?!?!

I'm sure it's just another way for shops to make some more money - bet it's originally an American tradition!

We never had anything like that as kids, but I think it's quite a nice idea really. It's not like it contains a stack of presents! Pjs, dvd, chocolate etc, what's wrong with that?