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?

it's not me that uses the word "tat".
It's one an awful lot of Mumsnetters say.

I know that 🙂

Im talking about how it's so often used in that derogatory way

@TheKeatingFive yes sorry - I miss-read your post 🙂
I don't even understand what "tat" means half the time when it's often used to describe really normal things that people get as gifts.
It is used so derogatory indeed.

I'm having a new nightdress and slippers, some chocolates and a new book on Christmas Eve. I won't see 60 again and I bought them for myself so I don't see why I shouldn't.

The box hate on here is so irrational that people who actually do give some gifts on Christmas Eve still claim they don't understand why anyone would do it. One year there was a woman who did a box (and it sounded great) and yet claimed she couldn't understand why anyone did boxes. Another did a box the first year she was out of her abusive marriage and celebrating with the kids. Again, it sounded fantastic and she said it was one of the best Christmases ever, but she still didn't like the boxes.

I'm not making this up. It's madness.

I went out today and bought myself a new pair of pyjamas and a lovely, christmas mug so I can join in with the children with theirs on christmas eve.

Partly inspired by this thread. Life is short. My children are only young once. First year of doing them xmas eve boxes and I will continue it.

I do it partly because I didn't have this or Christmas stockings as a child. Might do the stocking thing this year too.

And Google

Not that new my boys are 13 and 11 and we did them when they were small. We did a box to share, set of PJ’s each, a movie for Christmas Eve, Hot Chocolate sachet with Marshmallows, their Christmas Stocking to hang and a Christmas Story to read.

We have a family one rather than individuals, only started last year but it’s all stuff I’d have bought for Christmas Eve anyway, this year I’m thinking of adding some of his actual Christmas presents to it as there are lot are little things that I really don’t want to have to wrap up, he’s still too young to remember for next year so won’t expect the same again.

but ours included last year matching pjs, I always like new for Christmas, so I started it with my son to we may as well match then, a couple of books, activity and a new duck for the bath because he’s too young for hot chocolate, obsessed with ducks and I like spare bath toys on hand because no matter how much you sterilise them they always need replacing after so long.

last years also including a special plate for Santa and Rudolph - that probably is very Instagram but it’s never seen social media I just like everything Christmas in the house and was buying it anyway so popped it in as a bit of fun.

I won’t ever buy extra for it. It’ll just be stuff I would have bought anyway but it just adds to the excitement in a Christmas Eve box as it looks like a early present

Not new to me, my parents let us open a present on Xmas eve I have always done the same with my children. Ours were new pjs (not Xmas design) and a snack. Basically new winter PJ's which we would have been getting anyway but opening it a day early felt like a real treat.

Children tend to grow.
Rapidly.

Also, most people generally have at least two pairs of pyjamas.

I'm confused by everyone buying new pyjamas for their Christmas Eve boxes. Why do you need new pyjamas every year? Do you just throw last year's pyjamas away then every Christmas eve?

You know kids grow? And then need pyjamas in a different size.

And sometimes things wear out.

Do you not buy your kids new PJs at least once a year?

How do you manage that?

PJs bought at Christmas don’t only need to be worn at Christmas. Kids grow, usually have multiple pairs and they wear out.

I wouldn't pay full price for pyjamas with the sales about to start in a matter of days.

If children growing confuses you, I don't think this can be explained at your level. You'll just have to accept that it's beyond you but everyone else understands it. Stay away from sharp objects.

So don't. But the sales happen in order to get rid of stock they didn't sell at peak time. Most people want to give their gifts at Christmas so they buy them before Christmas.

Do you really not grasp this?

Christmas as we know it would not be possible without the more-money-than-sense brigade.

Christmas as we know it certainly wouldn't exist if we waited until Boxing Day before we bought anything for it. But then the sales wouldn't start until after that.

Wow, these concepts must be harder than I thought...

We've gone from shaming people for elves and boxes to shaming them for buying anything at all before the Boxing Day/January sales.

How unbelievably miserable.

There is no point whatsoever, but if you worry every time someone wastes her own money on something pointless, you will do a lot of worrying and probably get ill. Better to ignore it. Unfortunately the average IQ is 100, which is at least 20 points too low.

What?

That makes no sense. You buy PJs that you can afford. So do other people.

what does full price actually mean? Not buying full price doesn’t mean paid more. Depends on where you are shopping. I might buy PJs in one shop at full price, but that are cheaper than another shop even when they have sales on.

Theres also tons of sales going on November and December. So how do you know people paid ‘full price’ or spent (to you) an unacceptable amount on PJs.

i assume you celebrate Christmas on the 27th? So you don’t buy anything before Christmas?

Sounds fun. 😂

I don't know what the Instagram boxes are like, but we started giving something to the children on Christmas eve when they were little and bursting out of their skin with excitement, pestering me to be allowed to open just one present. It's PJs, chocolates and a family board game (used to be a dvd back in the days before Netflix) - basically something to do together on Christmas Eve.

This will shock and horror so many of you but I am going to buy my daughter's Christmas present today and she will have it today.
Yes.... that's right. Today. The 8th December. Oh the horror 😱😱😱
(She is autistic will simply get frustrated to know it's in the house and she can't use it)
Edit : I might even put in a box......🤔😱🤔🤣