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Original poster

What on earth is a Christmas Eve box??

642 replies

Xmasevewhat · 04/12/2023 14:58

I've suddenly seen 'Christmas Eve boxes' popping up everywhere. In shops, on Etsy, social feeds. Never even heard of the concept and now all of a sudden it's everywhere.

Can someone explain the point? Seems like they are filled with same kind of things you'd put in a stocking. Be honest, is it just another Instagram fad/ excuse to spend money?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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TheKeatingFive · 05/12/2023 08:49

Norwegians dress up in suits for Christmas Day too.

NonPlayerCharacter · 05/12/2023 08:50

New clothes for a national/religious holiday. Who'd have thunk?

Puffinshop · 05/12/2023 08:50

sunglassesonthetable · 05/12/2023 08:49

Luckily, like with the pyjamas, you can wear the smart shirts and dresses for other events throughout the year, for example a 4 year old's birthday party. Icelanders love being fancy.

Can I ask if you have the Live, Love,Laugh signs?

I've never seen one 😔

There are equivalents I would say!

TheKeatingFive · 05/12/2023 08:51

New clothes for a national/religious holiday. Who'd have thunk?

And HOT CHOCOLATE 😮

sunglassesonthetable · 05/12/2023 08:52

I've never seen one 😔

There are equivalents I would say!
*
😄👌🏼

the7Vabo · 05/12/2023 08:54

I’m with the OP. The main reason being I hate to see more cheap tat burning up the planet. If it’s stuff the kids would be getting anyways I don’t see the harm but Christmas specific PJs and yet more plastic really annoy me. Kids just don’t need it. Santa is literally coming the next day.

Im focused on a really simple Christmas this year due to money & stress levels. Kids are v young. We’ve done a fairly cheap trip to Santa, there is a school fair & carol service for my eldest and that’s loads IMO. I won’t be doing frills like advent calendars beyond the simple one, the elf or Christmas Eve boxes.

I’m burnt out and I think Christmas puts people under wild pressure to do all sorts of things that aren’t needed. If you enjoy them great, but I expect the enjoyment would be there regardless.

Puffinshop · 05/12/2023 08:55

I've already bought my kids' new Christmas shirt/dress. They're going to look lovely and I will take a photo of them standing by the Christmas tree (won't put it on Facebook though).

All the kids in their new pyjamas are going to look lovely too!

Zebedee55 · 05/12/2023 08:56

An American idea to waste even more money on.

Royaly82 · 05/12/2023 08:57

Did i grow up on a different planet? My parents did this for us every year when we were children and I'm 41 🤣

justteanbiscuits · 05/12/2023 09:00

RampantIvy · 05/12/2023 07:33

is it just another Instagram fad/ excuse to spend money?

Yes.
They weren't a thing when DD was little, thank goodness.

I'm 50 and had them as a kid!! As I said, the PJ's were a thing from my own Mum's childhood (very little money, so a new nightie / PJ's on xmas eve was actually quite a big thing for them), but as my family spent many years living in Germany, maybe the making a thing out of it beyond just sleepwear was due to that. But I carried it on with my kids as I have such really lovely xmas eve memories with the tradition.

Bleakmidwinter1977 · 05/12/2023 09:02

Puffinshop · 05/12/2023 08:55

I've already bought my kids' new Christmas shirt/dress. They're going to look lovely and I will take a photo of them standing by the Christmas tree (won't put it on Facebook though).

All the kids in their new pyjamas are going to look lovely too!

It's entirely up to you if you want to share photos of your children with family and friends at Christmas.
We have family across the world and we all connect on Facebook.
I love seeing photos of their adventures and special occasions, seeing how the children have grown, particularly as it's impossible to visit everyone and send individual messages to every for all occasions.
Facebook might not be for everyone however, it works for us.

justteanbiscuits · 05/12/2023 09:05

Zebedee55 · 05/12/2023 08:56

An American idea to waste even more money on.

Except it isn't!! Read the thread. You may learn something

crochetmonkey74 · 05/12/2023 09:10

Why is everyone ignoring the posters like me who had old family things in the box each year and nothing new apart form pjs or nightie and dressing gown (not Xmas themed)

sunglassesonthetable · 05/12/2023 09:11

Seriously, and this is frying my head.

The 'Christmas Pyjamas' might or might not have a Christmas design on them. ( I always liked mine in a stripe.)

But you still wear them after Christmas!

They are probably new but if they're hand me downs ( and we did that sometimes ) they were 'new' to the child.

The point to note is kids grow and regularly need new pyjamas! So you just time it so they a Christmas Eve pair. Shock.

sunglassesonthetable · 05/12/2023 09:12

they get a Christmas Eve pair

TheKeatingFive · 05/12/2023 09:18

The point to note is kids grow and regularly need new pyjamas! So you just time it so they a Christmas Eve pair.

It's not a difficult concept, I've no idea why so many are struggling with it 🫠

cloudydays2 · 05/12/2023 09:19

We had this aswell as kids and my sister is 35! Mumsnet like to make it a negative it seems lol. Who cares if people do a Christmas eve box or not 😂 I will be doing one for my daughter and she will be getting new pyjamas as I don't think the ones from last year will fit considering she was 3 months old !

TheKeatingFive · 05/12/2023 09:20

Also - pyjamas, Christmas themed or otherwise, can be handed down.

I've only recently put DS1s Christmas pjs from 6 years ago in the clothes recycling. They've been worn by 2 other children since. I hope that's okay with you all.

NonPlayerCharacter · 05/12/2023 09:21

Some people cut the pyjamas up when the kids outgrow them and wrap next year's gifts in them.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 05/12/2023 09:22

TheKeatingFive · 05/12/2023 09:18

The point to note is kids grow and regularly need new pyjamas! So you just time it so they a Christmas Eve pair.

It's not a difficult concept, I've no idea why so many are struggling with it 🫠

Blow their minds completely and point out that adults need new pjs too! I wear mine until they don’t fit (thanks for that kids!) or they are more holes than pjs.

ChristmasFluff · 05/12/2023 09:22

I used to have a 'start of the schoolchristmas holidays' box, similar to a Christmas eve box.

But I've been educated away from my errant ways and now give son a Mumsnet Box, containing a fun sponge, a joy sucker and a pair of twisted knickers. All made out of wood, for fear of ever being judged as 'tat'.

sunglassesonthetable · 05/12/2023 09:23

I used to cut them up and turn them into LiveLoveLaugh signs.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 05/12/2023 09:24

NonPlayerCharacter · 05/12/2023 09:21

Some people cut the pyjamas up when the kids outgrow them and wrap next year's gifts in them.

Nah! Too much joy in that. Just put their one classic book and apple under the tree unwrapped because anything more than that is frivolous and excessive!

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 05/12/2023 09:24

If I give my kids their new, winter PJs on 23rd Dec is that okay? What if I leave them in the amazon box, or does it then become a Christmas eve, eve, box and therefore disallowed?

What if the PJs have sunflowers on, instead of a jolly, red clothed, obese, bearded male on it? Is that okay?

I'm so flummoxed by what is allowed these days. I mean, I get my kids new PJs every winter as they grow like weeds, and I pop them in a wicker basket under the tree (that originally I got from my nan as a Xmas present, filled with M&S treats, so it's a very middle class basket), and when the kids were little it came from the elves. Now it's just from boring mum and dad.

sunglassesonthetable · 05/12/2023 09:25

@ChristmasFluff 😭