Boo boxes

[CrispieCake]

I know someone will be along in a minute to say you do you, no need to participate if you don't want to, yada, yada, yada, but I've just seen these in a shop window and
...wtf?!!!

What fresh parental hell is this?

You've missed one.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4951802-december-1st-box

How did you do that?! I struggle enough chopping turnip roughly for eating!

My dad always says we should be carving turnips, but genuinely, HOW??

I’m very impressed with yours! It has a fab spooky quality!

Since a few people here have said these are an "American" (USA) thing - yes, the term "boo box" "boo basket" and "boo bag" are in use in the USA right now. They are pretty much new this year, as far as I know, at least as a widespread phenomenon, and are not at all as most people on this thread have assumed.

In the USA right now, these are basically donations of practical and immediate help given anonymously but directly to a person or household who might not normally want to accept "charity", under the guise of unusual and veiled things happening on Hallowe'en. The idea is that you pretend that supernatural entities (fae, ghosts, witches, you take your pick) left something for the recipient while the "veil between the worlds" was thinnest at Hallowe'en. In reality, these are a (relatively) socially acceptable way for people to give something to neighbors they know are suffering and struggling as public services are cut to the bone under the current administration, the government and all federal services are shut down, and for those neighbors to accept the help. There's usually a note left with a "boo box" saying pass this on when you can.

Of course, not everyone wants them but if someone doesn't then the anonymity and the cultural weirdness around the season means there's no pressure to react publicly or per formatively in any way. If you're still sneering - great; I hope you never need this kind of help.

Another manufactured 'tradition' to pressure people in to spending more money

I never did any of those things @Okiedokie123

whats the
24 Christmas books ?

The world doesn’t need to be polluted by any more useless tat. If you come off of social media you wouldn’t even know these things existed they’re such a non event.

Crazy, when will it stop.
I don't do Christmas eve boxes so I definitely won't be buying them.

I’ve never heard of Boo Boxes but I suppose we do this too - have done for years!

I have two DC who are both autistic and wouldn’t be able to go trick or treating. But they love Halloween traditions that we’ve always done together such as carving pumpkins (except we carve watermelon because it’s waaaay easier and we eat the insides so no wastage - plus it’s red so win/win!). We also decorate the house.

Many years ago I bought a Halloween decoration which was a skeleton grasping a large bowl. My DC called him Meany Boney (the literal autistic brain 😂 ). Every year he writes them a list of clues and challenges them to find his hidden sweets. It’s essentially a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt around the house.

My DC are 16 years old next month and they still absolutely love it!

Maybe because it was unnecessarily rude. Autocorrect changed it to having an apostrophe, and some people (like myself) struggle with using the correct grammar. Also, it's the internet, and it doesn't matter because you knew what I meant anyway.

It's not a case of "not being bothered" a lot of the time. Maybe learn to not be so rude. It doesn't look good on you.

My kids world isn’t so bleak that they need more plastic tat.

There soon won't be a month that hasn't got some "event" to be celebrated by the giving of a box of tat.

I don’t usually buy into all that stuff but I have one child who’s favourite holiday is Halloween, he looks forward to it all year, talks about it constantly throughout the year and I will be doing one for him this Halloween. It’s basically his Christmas so why not.

Hear hear

Christmas is also one day, why would you need presents?

No there’s too many now. On social media I see-
Valentine’s Day basket
Easter basket
Boo basket
1st December box
Christmas Eve box

Don’t you get anything nice and autumnal at this time of year!? I did ‘boo baskets’ for my 3 they contained a big bag of crisps, some autumnal fake nails for the older two and a Halloween activity book for ds, i crocheted a pumpkin for their room, a pumpkin mug for older and younger a cup with a twirly straw and a bag of spooky haribo.

whole thing cost about £25 including the baskets- they were well happy and cheaper than a macdonalds 🤣

I am also going to do a BRRR basket. Because I want to ☺️

I’ve seen Halloween ‘advent’ calendars advertised - is that a thing now? Certainly won’t be in my house!

Mine are 13 and 12, they don't get boo bags, Xmas eve boxes, Easter presents beyond one or two eggs, and they certainly don't feel like they're missing out. They get plenty else and aren't bothered about what everyone else gets

Typically, the people I know who do these types of things maybe don't have a lot of spare money for holidays, days out etc so this is how they treat their dc

I do a boo basket on 1st of October with little bits for them to do until halloween. Will do a brr basket too. But I don't do xmas eve box as it's xmas next day so don't see the point

i wouldn’t do one of these. The last thing I need in my house is more shite, plastic seasonal toys will end up binned before Xmas ! They will get some Halloween sweets and carve a pumpkin that’s about it

I never heard of boo baskets until very recently but I think I’ve been doing a version of it for years anyway as I’ve always made them up a loot bucket with their fave treats along with some glow sticks

What's that?

Sorry, what you don’t see here is the photo of the swede! I was responding to that, not so much the post. It they’re probably right 😂

What?.........

So in a time where apparently 'everyone' is skint, we're all too busy and stressed from 'having' to do it all and we're apparently all 'terrified' of the effect that all the consumer crap and waste is having on the planet and now there's another thing to spend money on that has turned one evening's bit of fun and a few sweets into a month long tat filled extravaganza and people are going along with it?

Words fail me.