What on earth is a Christmas Eve box??

[Xmasevewhat]

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?

@paradoxicalfrog I read a book about the history of Cadbury. Drinking chocolate was first promoted (or "mass marketed" if you must) as a health drink - especially important for growing children. That would have been Victorian era I think.
Mass promotion of products is hardly new.

"Absolutely Pure, Therefore Best"
But not on Christmas Eve apparently......😂

I do this for DH!

Well sort of. He get's a Christmas Eve bumbag. It's filled with batteries, tiny screwdrivers, a roll of bin bags, pen knife, mini torch, a redbull and a snack. Basically a Christmas Morning Survival kit.

In every workplace I've had, hot chocolate has been possibly the most common go-to for Secret Santa.

Now I know MN loathes Secret Santa and everyone is mortally offended that James in accounts who's spoken maybe six words to you didn't get you something incredibly thoughtful and personal on the £5 limit. However, when that many people consider it an inoffensive, workplace-appropriate gift, then I have to conclude that by general consensus, it might not be fabulously original as a present but it really isn't odd.

How are we even having this conversation?

*In every workplace I've had, hot chocolate has been possibly the most common go-to for Secret Santa.

Now I know MN loathes Secret Santa and everyone is mortally offended that James in accounts who's spoken maybe six words to you didn't get you something incredibly thoughtful and personal on the £5 limit. However, when that many people consider it an inoffensive, workplace-appropriate gift, then I have to conclude that by general consensus, it might not be fabulously original as a present but it really isn't odd.

How are we even having this conversation?*

I know 😄

Pyjamas ✔️

Don't think we got to the bottom of "sachets" though.

God there's still " bath bombs"!

"And fancy grinching about hot choc on the sofa. No one said YOU had to do it."

Read my post.

I just said: If you want to buy and give hot chocolate sachets and make "hot chocolate stations" that's your choice.

"Mass promotion of products is hardly new."

Of course it's not new.

But I worked in marketing and advertising which is probably why I am cynical.

That's very kind of you.

You also said

There was no big thing about the family snuggling up together on the sofa drinking hot chocolate.*

@paradoxicalfrog

But hey I suppose " big thing" could mean something nice.

Christmas Eve boxes, Elf on the fucking shelf and secret santa can all go and do one as far as I'm concerned. It's just more ways to extract money out of hard pressed families (and more shame and guilt if you can't afford it), more waste for the environment and more ways to ratify our increasingly child centric culture. Oh and it's all bloody American too.

Oh and it's all bloody American too.

Well no it's not actually.

(and more shame and guilt if you can't afford it)

The only shame and guilt being heaped on anyone is the crap being inflicted on people who like the boxes.

And how come the "shaming the poor" thing never applies to middle class markers like expensive consoles as gifts, huge catalogue-style roast dinners and massive trees covered with lights?

@sunglassesonthetable yes everything gets blamed on those American folk 😂
I've always read that in American Christmas Eve is when many people have their Christmas Dinner and Gifts because the actual day is more for going to Church.
I mean I may be wrong. I mostly know what I see on Hallmark movies 😂

Trips to Lapland
Organic Hand reared Meat for the table
Beauty Advent Calendars
A real tree every year
Waitrose Deliveries
A case of wine from Majestic

Get off your high horses about new jammies and hot choc in a box you bought from Asda.

My mum grew up in Germany but I don't think it was a thing when she was a child. Life was tough in the 1920s. We did, however, get a little gift on St Nicholas.

Every day is a school day.

I hate plastic tat so much that I buy wooden pyjamas for my children and they spend Xmas eve in a room heated to an extravagant 14° decorating home made signs that say 'Die, Cry, Hate' from their tears mixed with the ashes of all the neighbourhood toys that I've set fire to.

Mmm. I don't do any of those things in the list above. Never have.

Is it not possible to question why the hot chocolate thing has become so popular without having a list of what I assume you believe are expensive and quintessential middle class activities thrown back at you?

This is public forum - people will express different views. I'm sorry there isn't 100% consensus that Christmas Eve should involve Christmas Eve boxes, new PJs, sachets of hot chocolate and bath bombs.

I don't give a fig how you spend Christmas Eve or what you choose to spend your money on. All I asked was when did hot chocolate become such a thing? I'm sorry if you found that question triggering.

Is it not possible to question why the hot chocolate thing has become so popular without having a list of what I assume you believe are expensive and quintessential middle class activities thrown back at you?

You can question anything you like, but why would anyone with an inquiring and agile mind train it on the complete non-issue of having hot chocolate at Christmas? What would they even be wondering about? Why some people like to do it? Is it really that difficult and fascinating? Are we missing some sort of modern anthropological wonder?

I love a Christmas Eve box. It’s a nice way to build the excitement and have some new family traditions on Christmas Eve. A Christmas film, snacks, hot choc and a film. Lovely. You don’t have to spend much though I’m sure people do

I don't give a fig how you spend Christmas Eve or what you choose to spend your money on. All I asked was when did hot chocolate become such a thing? I'm sorry if you found that question triggering.

Of course you don't.

"All I asked.....?"

I think that's a teeny tiny bit disingenuous. You quite sure you managed to keep the tone of superiority out of your post?

^"" a whole industry devoted "

" it reminds me of cup cake mania "

" basically expensive fairy cakes "

" there was no big thing"

"marketing, marketing, marketing"^

I didn't find your question "triggering" just like you're not "sorry" about it.

You can question anything you like, but why would anyone with an inquiring and agile mind train it on the complete non-issue of having hot chocolate at Christmas? What would they even be wondering about? Why some people like to do it? Is it really that difficult and fascinating? Are we missing some sort of modern anthropological wonder?

Why are you bothering reading the thread? The OP's original question was: can someone explain the point of Christmas Eve boxes? By your logic, no-one should be asking that question, either.

Anyway too much time wasted here. CE Box or no CE box, Have a happy Christmas.

One thing to say.

"Bath Bombs"

@sunglassesonthetable yeah bubble bath is far superior 😂

I didn't find your question "triggering" just like you're not "sorry" about it.

Well, you do seem rather upset. "Get off your high horses etc."

@paradoxicalfrog

😉