To ask what a Christmas Eve box is?

[Qpobb]

I keep seeing posts on my local FB marketplace advertising "Christmas Eve boxes". No idea what they are, what function they have or what goes in them? Surely there are enough presents given out on Christmas day itself!? I have no DC, so perhaps something that isn't relevant to me... However, I am curious!!

But this is a very artificial one

What makes a tradition natural, then?

Yes I’d love an answer to this.

All Christmas traditions are small scale practices and/or new ideas that get well marketed to the masses and catch on. Trees, puddings, turkeys, crackers, cards, you name it.

My DD is 18 and I have always given her pjs, bath bomb, chocolates and a film / book on Xmas eve. My DS IS 3 and he gets it but in a box and there is the ingredients to make cookies for Santa too

That's all fairly new and you can't argue it's not commercialised when you walk into Asda and directly facing you is a pallet of Disney-themed or superhero "Christmas Eve boxes"

Nobody has argued that they haven't been commercialised. What we're asking is why the boxes get so much anti-consumerist criticism when the trees, crackers, gift boxes, wrapping paper, roasting birds, selection boxes, puddings, tinsel, wine, Santa grottos and train rides, stockings and general gift markets get off scot free. Especially the expensive middle class markers. Everything about Christmas is commercialised, and this is actually one of the more modest and less wasteful things.

All Christmas good considered, a film night box seems an odd thing to spark people into suddenly coming over all Karl Marx.

Well selection boxes are something that we don't buy in this house. Does that help offset my sin of Christmas Eve pjs?! 😂

Love them. I did myself one this year. Pjs, fluffy socks, lush bath bomb and a little marshmallow toasting kit. Might add a mini bottle of prosecco.

We do them for our DC and have since DD was born. We put new pyjamas, fluffy socks, a bath bomb, hot chocolate, a movie ticket (homemade) to watch a film (that we already have) and the night before Christmas book that we have. We also do elf on the shelf, it suits our family and the kids love it.

@BiddyPop

Well selection boxes are something that we don't buy in this house. Does that help offset my sin of Christmas Eve pjs?! 😂

No. The crime is unpardonable.

[quote Qpobb]@lockheart I actually did, but it just came up with the outer boxes for sale. I want to know what's in them! [/quote]
If you type in what is a Christmas eve box rather than just Christmas eve box that will help.

It's the first year we're doing it and

The kids each have:
An enamel mug with their names and favourite dinosaur on
A pair of pyjamas
A small chocolate reindeer
A build a bear with a voice recording of themselves singing nursery rhymes

To share:
A bath bomb
The grinch story book
The snow dog DVD
A posh hot chocolate, marshmallows and squirty cream
A letter from Father Christmas talking about what "good" things they've done that have got them a spot on the "nice" list

And everyone in the house is getting a new stocking to hang their bedroom door handle

I've gone over the top this year but they're 2 and 3 and it's the first year they've properly understood it and are exited for it.

SinkGirl. I make no assumptions. I love Christmas too. I hope you have a lovely time. I think decorating trees and baking gingerbread is lovely.

I don’t like major retailers applying subliminal pressure to spend evermore on unnecessary junk. Nothing wrong with pyjamas, nothing wrong with hot chocolate. Each to their own, but......I do think it places huge pressure on families to spend money to ‘hold their own’ against other families and not feel sadness if they can’t keep up financially.

I do think it places huge pressure on families to spend money to ‘hold their own’ against other families and not feel sadness if they can’t keep up financially.

Do you feel this way about every single item that gets advertised by retailers, including the things you like?

but......I do think it places huge pressure on families to spend money to ‘hold their own’ against other families and not feel sadness if they can’t keep up financially.

But you don’t have the same concerns about the actual expensive stuff people give as Christmas presents? Or the Christmas experiences that cost a fortune? Or massive trees, lights, outdoor decorations?

You’re focused on the box that costs a few quid?

I've never done Christmas Eve boxes, unless it's a box of wine for myself.
Cheers.

TheKeatingFive No, I have the same concerns about most hyped up commercial pressures. Winter wonderlands, houses covered in flashing reindeer and inflatable snowmen, ‘luxury’ crackers, themed giant trees - I think it must be incredibly hard to ‘keep up with the jones’.

That isn’t because I dislike Christmas, far from it. I love Christmas.

I have a DS but we don’t do them (not do we do the awful Elf). Presents are for Christmas Day.

I’m not in to importing American traditions in to our Christmas celebrations.

And yes I’m aware that Christmas trees were originally German!

No, I have the same concerns about most hyped up commercial pressures

And you yourself don’t buy anything that you like?

No clothes, sports stuff, hobby stuff, house stuff, tech, nice holidays, fun days out, good food/drink, etc, etc.

Commercial pressure applies across all spheres of life.

@VestaTilley

I have a DS but we don’t do them (not do we do the awful Elf). Presents are for Christmas Day.

I’m not in to importing American traditions in to our Christmas celebrations.

And yes I’m aware that Christmas trees were originally German!

Well it’s lucky you can do what you like then, same as everyone else.

On Christmas Eve my twins are getting things that they’d be getting anyway - some pyjamas (dinosaur), a robe and some slippers, and a book. I’m trying to teach them about opening gifts, only opening their own gifts etc so I’ve wrapped them up. If people want to put that stuff in a box instead then who could honestly get worked up about it? I don’t care how anyone else celebrates Christmas.

I’m not in to importing American traditions in to our Christmas celebrations.

What’s wrong with specifically American traditions then?

@VestaTilley

I have a DS but we don’t do them (not do we do the awful Elf). Presents are for Christmas Day.

I’m not in to importing American traditions in to our Christmas celebrations.

And yes I’m aware that Christmas trees were originally German!

Oh dear Don't research any more Christmas traditions. You're going to be devastated

Wreaths
Nativity plays
Father Christmas
Gift giving

The thing that confuses me is all the talk of dvds!! Doesn't everyone use a streaming service these days?

I only have Netflix. The films are crap.

I don't think I even have a dvd player anymore.

Agreed not had a dvd in the house since my teens were toddlers.

We had nothing like this, that’s why now as an adult I like new pjs at Christmas or new year.

@bombymobey

The thing that confuses me is all the talk of dvds!! Doesn't everyone use a streaming service these days?

We have sky (full package), Netflix, Amazon prime and Disney+ but sometimes I fancy watching an old film and can't find it on any of them so I put the DVD on 🙂 Most recently was "Fried green tomatoes"