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Original poster

Were Christmas Eve boxes not enough?!

307 replies

AnnLouiseB · 15/02/2021 17:27

I’ve just seen these advertised on Facebook. Is this a thing now? Must we have a cutesy box for every single calendar event? Where are people keeping these crates as they endlessly accumulate?

Were Christmas Eve boxes not enough?!
OP posts:
drsambeckett · 15/02/2021 19:22

They have been around for years - I can remember being given the huge wicker basket filled with coloured straw and a big chocolate egg, bunny, lots of little eggs etc and all wrapped up in cellophane. That was 40 years ago but there were no personalised names on them.

CinnamonStar · 15/02/2021 19:23

I think they are a nice idea, but would be hard to hide - we always make up clues for each other and hide the eggs.

Dc love making clues for us too (usually particularly fiendish, so they are sitting smugly holding their eggs whilst DH and I are still wandering the house in bewilderment.)

theleafandnotthetree · 15/02/2021 19:23

@GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom

if your child is the only one without one that feels shit for both you and the child.

Why does this never apply to big houses, expensive tech, foreign holidays and things like that? Why does it only ever apply to gift boxes that everyone claims they've never heard of and don't do anyway?

And that's where living in a home which values people for who they are and what they achieve rather than what they have or buy comes into its own. There is literally no bottom if you go down that road of keeping up with others because there will always be others with more, always. Children are never too young to learn about how the consumer society works and to distinguish between tat and things which are genuinely valuable and useful.
Pineapples3 · 15/02/2021 19:23

Yeah it’s OTT. More useless crap. But then my kids are young, maybe when they’re older and play the games/read the books... maybe.

A personalised box though? Why?

Annabell80 · 15/02/2021 19:26

We don't do Christmas Eve boxes or anything else like that. I buy a few small eggs (eg cream eggs) and hide them for the kids. But nothing else, perhaps we're just a bit miserable!

DavidsSchitt · 15/02/2021 19:26

Easter baskets have been around longer than I have and I'm pretty old

omygoditsearly · 15/02/2021 19:27

Yep more tat!

OhWhyNot · 15/02/2021 19:28

Isn’t just a sturdier Easter basket

Shall get one for ds fill with chocolate that he probably won’t eat so I shall have to

Natsku · 15/02/2021 19:29

I do big hollow card eggs for the children, filled with little treats, and hide one each for them around the house.

Can understand people wanting to do a whole box this year just to make up for the general shittiness of this year but that's not a bar I'm willing to set, easter next year would be a let down if I didn't do it again.

FinalSongbird · 15/02/2021 19:30

But the fun of Easter is in the hunt!

Siepie · 15/02/2021 19:31

My grandparents always sent me an Easter basket when I was primary school age. I still have a little toy chick I got one year!

On the other hand I’ve never done an Easter egg hunt, so maybe I should be criticising the wasted paper clues or something.

MrsWindass · 15/02/2021 19:31

These things are all fuelled by all this shite you see on Marketplace on FB- people putting crap together - sweets , chocolate bombes, chocolate with weirs lettering , exploding cakes . wax melts. I am always surprised that people make any money from doing all this stuff. Easter boxes are not a thing where i come from but obv Easter Eggs were . People get caught up in all this commercial crap.

theleafandnotthetree · 15/02/2021 19:36

@MrsWindass

These things are all fuelled by all this shite you see on Marketplace on FB- people putting crap together - sweets , chocolate bombes, chocolate with weirs lettering , exploding cakes . wax melts. I am always surprised that people make any money from doing all this stuff. Easter boxes are not a thing where i come from but obv Easter Eggs were . People get caught up in all this commercial crap.
Yet another reason to stay away from Facebook! I'm not on it or Instagram or any of them really and am in blissful ignorance of these fads and trends. I highly recommend it.
GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 15/02/2021 19:36

And that's where living in a home which values people for who they are and what they achieve rather than what they have or buy comes into its own. There is literally no bottom if you go down that road of keeping up with others because there will always be others with more, always. Children are never too young to learn about how the consumer society works and to distinguish between tat and things which are genuinely valuable and useful.

This is nice, but it doesn't really answer the question. These seasonal gift boxes always get way more flack and "what about the poor children" than the actually expensive stuff, like houses, bikes, tech and holidays, that are far more likely to cause envy and sorrow and are much larger indicators of wealth gaps. Why?

And I take your points but...an Easter box with chocolate, books and a cuddly toy? Is that really a sign that a family isn't valuing people for who they are and what they achieve?

theleafandnotthetree · 15/02/2021 19:41

@GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom

And that's where living in a home which values people for who they are and what they achieve rather than what they have or buy comes into its own. There is literally no bottom if you go down that road of keeping up with others because there will always be others with more, always. Children are never too young to learn about how the consumer society works and to distinguish between tat and things which are genuinely valuable and useful.

This is nice, but it doesn't really answer the question. These seasonal gift boxes always get way more flack and "what about the poor children" than the actually expensive stuff, like houses, bikes, tech and holidays, that are far more likely to cause envy and sorrow and are much larger indicators of wealth gaps. Why?

And I take your points but...an Easter box with chocolate, books and a cuddly toy? Is that really a sign that a family isn't valuing people for who they are and what they achieve?

The 'why' is easy, it's much easier to focus on these pretty inconsequential things than ask big questions about structural and intergenerational inequalities and the consumerist society and demand changes therein. Not to bring the children who have less 'up' to the fancy houses, bikes, tech, holidays but to figure out how we can all live more sustainable and less materially acquisitive lives and find contentment in doing so. But that's for another day!
theleafandnotthetree · 15/02/2021 19:44

Each of these individual things - Easter boxes, Christmas Eve boxes etc are relatively harmless in themselves and when taken in the context of an individual family, it's the cumulative effect of this cradle to grave competitive consumerism that is doing for our planet, our mental health and our well-being.

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 15/02/2021 19:45

Jesus wept it's not like theres much going on for kids at the moment is it?

theleafandnotthetree · 15/02/2021 19:48

@Borisjohnsonshairbrush

Jesus wept it's not like theres much going on for kids at the moment is it?
Well no, but how is getting more stuff or having it in a box with your name on it necessarily going to make any of the shit things any better, apart from that few minutes of 'wow'? The things we are missing now are not going to be filled by it, it would be a very poor substitute for fun and friendship and cuddles with granny and grandad
Kottbullar · 15/02/2021 19:50

What I want to know is why are the names on the top left ones blurred out?

This is clearly the burning question! I need to know.

littlepattilou · 15/02/2021 19:52

@AnnLouiseB Agree with some others. I see no problem, and think they're cute.

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 15/02/2021 19:54

Well, If if it cheers a child up after not seeing their mates for weeks etc then it's worth every penny. I dont do xmas eve boxes but I do Easter egg hunts and treats. It's just thread after thread of purchase bashing. Leave people be.

Maddison12 · 15/02/2021 19:54

@BrumBoo

Oh goodness who cares.

I grew up in a Christian household, Easter was always a mini Christmas. A million eggs, money, gift baskets, my grandparents usually bought us toys instead of more chocolate..... it was a pretty good time I wont lie.

My children get an egg that they don't even bother with (chocolate is pretty shit these days). They have no idea what Easter is and won't notice anyone else getting baskets so has zero effect on us.

I do Xmas Eve boxes instead of a stocking as a new book and PJs is a nice way to chill tiny, over excited children. I really couldn't give a shite how 'chavvy' or whatnot it is.

Since when were xmas eve boxes chavvy Shock
GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 15/02/2021 19:57

@theleafandnotthetree

Each of these individual things - Easter boxes, Christmas Eve boxes etc are relatively harmless in themselves and when taken in the context of an individual family, it's the cumulative effect of this cradle to grave competitive consumerism that is doing for our planet, our mental health and our well-being.
Why the assumption that these boxes are competitive? Is it not possible that people just like giving some gifts to kids on Easter and Christmas? Is there no space for that in a happy and relatively ethical family? Are these boxes the driving force behind climate change?
AlwaysLatte · 15/02/2021 20:00

What does seem to be a thing now is criticising other people's choices. If someone is happy to buy them, and another is making a little money doing so in these tough times, then that's fine. So you can choose to sell them or not, buy them or not, but slating someone's small business on forums like this isn't very nice.

MinnieJackson · 15/02/2021 20:03

IMO not worth it. More cheap tat that will get chucked Blush