No one is ever to old for a Christmas Eve box??

[spidermomma]

Dh things my DSS are to old for a Christmas Eve box?
They are like my big helpful baby's their 20 and 17, one DSs has been staying with his mum past few weeks and the other with his GF but both said they want to be here over Xmas and want their Xmas Eve box's like the kids (my youngest 3)
I'm so glad they want to be here over Xmas and I love the fact they will always want the box's no matter. How old they get lol dh says their to old, but your never to old right ??
Also any ideas what to add in them
Going to do one big box save getting 5, all new pjs, mugs, books, bath bombs and some goodies an then teddy's (yes they love them to) 🤣

So many snooty replies on here. People are allowed to enjoy whatever they want to, at any age.

Christmas is a really joyful time for many people, and little cosy Christmas eve boxes are so cute. I don't do them, neither does my family, but I envy families who do as I think they are lovely and bring an extra bit of magic.

Christmas eve was always important in my family

Midnight mass, the story of mary and joseph and the donkey and trying to get a bed etc

You don’t need to spend more money and buy more rubbish to make Christmas lovely. Most people aren’t missing hot chocolate or new pyjamas, they miss spending quality time together and doing something together, why not have a tradition of Christmas Eve baking or making wreaths. Boxes are just wasteful capitalism. Doesn’t stop you buying nice decent stuff for Christmas Day but no one needs a new mug and pyjamas every year.

I don't do them personally but I'm amused at how much they irritate the joyless of mumsnet, I look forward to these threads every year so that's one of my christmas traditions ticked off.

Too old, but can they be involved in getting things for the younger children's boxes? Then they get the Christmas Joy without the acquisitiveness.

Do any adult children buy a Christmas Eve box for their parents. Only fair isn’t it?

@LoisWilkersonslastnerve

I don't do them personally but I'm amused at how much they irritate the joyless of mumsnet, I look forward to these threads every year so that's one of my christmas traditions ticked off.

I'm not amused but wonder at the people buying into mindless consumerism.

I'm not amused but wonder at the people buying into mindless consumerism.

Yeah, it's always people trying to moralise the issue this way. The trouble is, a)the boxers have usually given it plenty of thought and speak very thoughtfully about why they like it and b) the boxes are really quite modest affairs: pyjamas, book, DVD, consumables, maybe a teddy, and all in a reusable box rather than wrapping paper which often isn't recyclable and is contaminated with sellotape even when it is. So while there is a case to be made for reducing waste, plastics and all that, the humble little Christmas Eve box does seem a strange target for it, especially since I'm pretty sure we could go through anyone's Christmas shopping and find stuff they don't "need".

I get jumped on every time I suggest it, but I've yet to see anything that changed my mind: I think it's just the usual case of MN classism dressed up as moral superiority. I don't generally see this level of judgement aimed at expensive tech or big houses or other things the middle classes like. Christmas Eve boxes are generally pretty modest affairs with very little waste, and as such are very attainable and, rightly or wrongly, seem to carry different associations. I know someone's going to come in telling me about the person they know who spends £500 on theirs or whatever, but if that's the case, you'll probably find other more egregious examples of rampant capitalism in their spending. Anyway, plenty of boxers also explain that they stick to their same budget, they just distribute it differently to allow for the film night box the night before.

@Ginfordinner

TBH I don't understand why so many mumsnetters make such a big thing of hot chocolate. I can't get excited about a hot, sickly sweet drink. And neither can DD.

You mean hot "choc".

@movingonup20 not all bath bombs are glitter. You can get one of aftershave etc just get the fizz and the nice smell in the bath. Nothing wrong with that but yea maybe a baileys hot chocolate for the older ones and myself sounds a good idea ! They aren't into cheese boards etc

Just thinking about bath bombs makes me itchy. Maybe bubble bath?

Let them keep their traditions.

I grew up with presents on Christmas Morning. DH grew up in another country where his tradtion was presents on the evening of Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was all about a long Mass and the dinner.
Neither of us is wrong, and we compromise with some little gifts like books and pajamas on Christmas Eve. Not as formal as a Christmas Box, but similar level of contents.

It's small fillers of useful and consumable items that make common gifts. It makes no odds to wider society if they are given 12 hours earlier on the evening.

Op. I think you sound very lovely. Adult children can often feel very pushed out by second families. You are bringing those children back into the fold and treating them like their siblings. I have 5 children (with my still present husband). My eldest can feel left out sometimes even though she's technically too old for whatever it is I'm doing for the younger ones. I just include her. It's not nice to feel unfavored. My dad at 81 is still hurt by being left out by his aunt when he was 7!! Agree separate boxes, pj's bath bomb, hot choc and a book would get my vote! Fluffy blanket if you want to push boat out!!

@willitbetonight thank you! My mum always made sure everyone at my home got the same growing up. Same now with all the grand children so I guess she passed that on! As my grandad used to give my cousin gifts etc in front of me and I got nothing and that wasn't nice and I never forgave him for that and it's awful as he's just passed to :( but Their all ours so no one gets treated differently. We have huge Christmas blankets an one of them will no doubt rob their Ds mermaid tail blanket! They will kill me if they knew I shared this lol. Buti can spent next to nothing an the baby has a huge pile and they have 1 present for a lot more then they have 🤣 aslong as their all together for Christmas I'm not really bothered ! I love them all together xx

Never done it.

Not going to start.

We have the elf all December and lots of Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve is one of our favourite days of the year anyway. We make reindeer food, watch a film, play games, track Santa on NORAD.

What I don't understand is only getting the Christmas PJs on 24th December.

We wear ours for the month (apart from when they're in the wash)

But I do make sure they're clean and fresh for the 24th.

Christmas Eve is one of our favourite days of the year anyway. We make reindeer food, watch a film, play games, track Santa on NORAD

same....love it

oneline my children dont get themed pjs so it doesn’t matter, if they did id probably do it at the beginning of the month...they get Christmas socks on December the 2nd in their advent calendar (those still at home)

I'm 55, my son is 16, we will both be having a Christmas Eve box. There is nothing we wouldn't be getting on Christmas day, PJs which we need anyway, selection box, posh hot chocolate, DVD
It's not excessive and not extra expenditure. Last year I bought boxes - they were £3 from Wilkos,we still have them

@Ginfordinner

TBH I don't understand why so many mumsnetters make such a big thing of hot chocolate. I can't get excited about a hot, sickly sweet drink. And neither can DD.

I fucking love a good hot chocolate.

Christmas Eve boxes and the dreaded elf on a shelf have now got over commercialised. It is no longer an old shoe box wrapped in Christmas paper but a purpose made box from Wilko for £5. Same as elf on a shelf with different outfits, signs and spy cameras. It is no longer a Poundland elf sitting on a shelf somewhere.

@ArranBound

I'd never heard of Xmas Eve boxes until last year. Sorry, but I think they're ridiculous; doubly so for adults. Maybe you could think up a new (preferably grown up) tradition for Xmas Eve instead.

This. Having said that, we still do stockings for each other and they’re a lovely way to start Christmas Day. Are these boxes instead of stockings?

It wasnt a conscious decision on my part vinyl the ‘box’ kind of evolved but we dont do stockings so that may have a bearing

We never did Christmas Eve boxes, it wasn't a thing for us growing up. We didn't have new pjs either and definitely not themed ones. And we didn't do any of that for dd either.

But we have other Christmas Eve traditions which we have enjoyed over the years and I don't give a fig about what anyone else does. It's a harmless, small thing to do and it presumably makes families feel happy and celebratory and a bit special - that's important.

OP I think it's sweet that your dss's still want to come to you and participate and it's wonderful that you have managed to create such a welcoming home for everyone.

Some people are just mean and a bit joyless I think

I have hot chocolate nearly every day. So having it as a special treat on Christmas Eve wouldn't really work for me.

The only tradition we have is having a new board game every year for Christmas day afternoon and watching Home Alone.

I have just had a new nephew so looking forward to seeing what DB decides to start with him. But will warn DB that whatever he does he will need to carry on for years...

I'm not amused but wonder at the people buying into mindless consumerism.

Yawn. That old chestnut
I wonder at the people who assume it's "mindless".

Our DC's have wooden engraved Christmas Eve boxes that were made for them by a relative and are very special to them. They always contain pyjamas (not Christmas themed, ones they'll wear all year round), a book, a new ornament to hang on the tree (this year DD is getting a Harry Potter one and DS one with a train as that's what they're into) and something to do in the evening like a christmassy colouring book or puzzle book. Not extravagant, not 'plastic tat', all useful or meaningful things that we've put thought into.

We don't do 'elf on the shelf'. But I wouldn't be so judgemental as to look down on people who do as "buying into mindless consumerism".