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?

In the olden days, and also now in many European countries, Christmas gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve.

I wonder if it's stems from that?

I think it depends what you put in it. We don't do a formal box, but fresh pj's (not new, unless they need some), special bubble bath, hot chocolate and a book or movie to be cosy and wind down with on Xmas Eve is a nice tradition for everyone, especially over excited kids! I wouldn't Instagram it though.

A chocolate, a book to read together and the pjs I would be giving the child regardless because they need new pjs. That's it in our house. No pics on social, but just a nice thing to do with my kids before they go to bed

I don't even think pics on SM would be this terrible evil anyway. SM is part of modern life and not even a new addition. It's perfectly normal to share occasion pics to the people who choose to see them if you want to. Yes of course some people are fake and show offy, but they're not a new addition to humanity either and if you hate seeing it, unfollow.

People actually exploiting their children (because you know someone's going to weaponise this) are another matter entirely and outside the scope of this topic...and they don't need Christmas Eve boxes or elves to do it.

Elf on the Shelf is honestly one of the most insufferable, sefl indulgent, I'm SUCH a better parent that you mummy one upmanship I'e ever seen. It's also creepy as hell.

I first saw this idea on Mumsnet 16 years ago, well before it became super popular. Back then it was just new pjs and an activity like a colouring book/craft kit to do on Christmas Eve. The idea was that it's something to keep the kids occupied on the most endless (for kids!) day of the year
I've done it ever since, which happened to be DC1's first Christmas.
It's become a bit ridiculous over the last few years with all the fancy expensive boxes and endless bits of tat that people fill them with. I just wrap a cardboard box in Christmas paper and stick the stuff inside for all 4 DC!

Basically a tradition for a load of people active on social media who spend more time putting up pictures for validation of what a great parent they are vs actually spending time with their family.

Its just me and my DS and traditionally, I have allowed him to open his stocking on xmas eve with his little bits and bobs and he will also have his xmas pjs (kids need new ones every year as they grow) but I have had the same ones for 4 years now.

We do the leaving Santa out snacks, Christmas movie with pjs and snacks/hot chocolate. Bed for 9, then I can get sorted for next morning.

Facebook mums will have pictures of presents covering their sofas etc and to me, its hard to distinguish what santa brings and what parents bring. My DS gets presents from mummy filled in a santa sack (which is fairly big) and his santa present will remain unwrapped, so all my presents aren't scattered everywhere for the gram 😂

Elf on the Shelf is honestly one of the most insufferable, sefl indulgent, I'm SUCH a better parent that you mummy one upmanship I'e ever seen. It's also creepy as hell.

It's just a soft toy that you move around the house.

Thats it.

Quite why it gets such a strong reaction on here, I'll never understand

Basically a tradition for a load of people active on social media who spend more time putting up pictures for validation of what a great parent they are vs actually spending time with their family.

And what about all the people who don't put anything up on social media ...

My children were given new pyjamas, slippers, sweets, a book and a VHS tape to watch on Christmas Eve back in the eighties/nineties. The only difference was that it wasn’t put in a named box. I think it’s harmless and a nice thing to do.

Elf on the Shelf is honestly one of the most insufferable, sefl indulgent, I'm SUCH a better parent that you mummy one upmanship I'e ever seen. It's also creepy as hell.

Never did EoS . My kids are too old but dear me what an over reaction.

" self indulgent " Dear me . Let it go.

If I thought this post was for real, I'd laugh. As it is, I'm just eye rolling. Becki.

@BeckiBoBecki I bought an Elf on the Shelf a few years back. According to my then aged about 12 daughter it was "omg that's so cringe" and "urrgh he's freaky". She threatened to throw him out the window.
He doesn't do naughty things. He just hangs around the house or I take him places and take pictures of him doing things. I then - and this bit will fill you with horror - put some of these pictures on Facebook 😱😂
I don't think my 20 or so Facebook friends really care that much. I do it for my amusement. My mother in law usually posts something like "Oh God you have that stupid ugly thing out again". I bought him a new jumper from Tesco today.
I am a failure to adulthood aren't I?
Or I am just having a bit of a laugh.

It's funny the things that get people's backs up.

If you were going to pick on something from the festive season, I would say, lets scrap crackers. They are overpriced shite, full of rubbish, go straight in the bin, and no one likes wearing the irritating hats. It's a mystery why anyone buys them, except that I still do, because my DC love pulling them.

I don't get the hate for new PJs on Xmas eve, and the Elf though. The Elf is the least consumerist tradition of all. It's a few £ which lasts a whole childhood, and is literally just about trying to make your DC smile every morning.

Some people flood social media with these things, but some people flood social media with every nice meal they eat - it doesn't make me turn my nose up at food.

It’s come about across the last ten years or so - and I’ve never understood it. That’s all my stocking ideas, not a chance!
Our kids get new PJs on Christmas Eve, just our own little tradition - everyone goes off to bed feeling nice and it looks good for Christmas morning photos as a bonus!
As the kids got older they wanted us to have PJs too so we added that - but we don’t go the matching route, everyone gets ones they would like!

I started doing the Christmas elf thing many many years ago too, after an idea from
an American friend. I hate how it’s become this over commercialised thing now! Ours is a cute Christmas gnome thing and he just used to move to a new hiding place each day - none of this reporting back to Santa malarkey! People do nothing but moan about it now because they’ve made such a huge thing of it, but ours is still a 30 second job and fun thing. Today he was rolling an apple at some of my daughter’s toys (like ten pin bowling). And that for us is complex 😄

I’ve never understood it.

I'm surprised that it's beyond you, given you do pretty much the same thing and just don't put the pyjamas in a box. Is the concept THAT difficult?

Possibly, although it is a bit strange since we don’t get presents on the 23rd (we call it Christmas Eve Eve and there are traditions for that) OR the 25th (a day to visit family after spending 24th at home doing the big celebration, very similar to Boxing Day here although we then also do Boxing Day). I do prefer celebrating on Christmas Eve as the whole day is full of excitement and traditions and it culminates with Christmas Dinner in the evening, followed by Santa visiting and personally giving out presents to children.

Oh god. What fresh hell is this.

One that doesn't have to affect you in any way at all. If only all hells were so easy to avoid.

It’s come about across the last ten years or so - and I’ve never understood it. That’s all my stocking ideas, not a chance!
Our kids get new PJs on Christmas Eve, just our own little tradition - everyone goes off to bed feeling nice and it looks good for Christmas morning photos as a bonus!
As the kids got older they wanted us to have PJs too so we added that - but we don’t go the matching route, everyone gets ones they would like!

So you do pretty much exactly the same but don't understand it.

I started doing the Christmas elf thing many many years ago too, after an idea from
an American friend. I hate how it’s become this over commercialised thing now! Ours is a cute Christmas gnome thing and he just used to move to a new hiding place each day - none of this reporting back to Santa malarkey! People do nothing but moan about it now because they’ve made such a huge thing of it, but ours is still a 30 second job and fun thing. Today he was rolling an apple at some of my daughter’s toys (like ten pin bowling). And that for us is complex 😄

And you do a version of EoS. But somehow everyone else's is tacky and over commercialised.

Please

I started doing the Christmas elf thing many many years ago too, after an idea from an American friend. I hate how it’s become this over commercialised thing now!

It really doesn't have to be, I don't spend a penny on the elf

@UnRavellingFast there was a whole thread about "December 1st Boxes". It was pretty much established by those that "do" December 1st boxes that it's basically "getting the Christmas things out in preparation for Christmas Day and to use during Advent". So getting the tree and the decorations out. Getting any crafts that need to be made before the actual day. Getting out any Christmas themed items that you only use at Christmas like the Angel shaped cookie cutter.
The whole "tat for Instagram" was pretty much proved to be a myth.
If you hate Christmas then yes it's probably "hell" but for most families it's just normal pre-christmas planning.

The whole "tat for Instagram" was pretty much proved to be a myth.

Its also a bit offensive. Loads of kids really value these traditions, it's quite mean spirited to dismiss it all as 'tat'.

@TheKeatingFive it's not me that uses the word "tat".
It's one an awful lot of Mumsnetters say.
I hate the word. Half the time people seem to use it it to refer to really ordinary things which I find quite insulting.
I'm all for December 1st Boxes and/or Christmas Eve boxes and the traditions families have. I think they are great. What I meant was people saying that it's only being done "for Instagram" that gets thrown around on threads like this - that's a myth.
Families do it because they want to and enjoy it.
I'm all for family fun and traditions.
Edit : sorry you were agreeing with me weren't you 🙂 Ooops. Sorry if I sound like I'm ranting at you 😂

The elf sells for less than £7. For a month of entertainment every year until the children all grow out of it, it's hardly excessive and wasteful. You'd spend more than that charging your phone to sneer and hand wring about it on here for six weeks.