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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Christmas Eve boxes - what’s in yours?

119 replies

Orangeorganic · 24/12/2025 15:35

Exactly that - what do you put in your kids Christmas Eve boxes, if you do them?
DD8 has got a book, some Christmas bath bombs, Christmas themed chocs/sweets, little bits like scented pencils from smiggle and a nail art pen set. DS5 has got a book, a sticker book, colouring in book, bath bomb, Christmas themed chocs

OP posts:
aWeeCornishPastie · 24/12/2025 22:45

never done them . Kids get enough on the day itself

ToffeePennie · 24/12/2025 22:55

UndoRedo · 24/12/2025 15:39

Nothing, weird new idea

It’s not new at all.
I’ve had Christmas Eve boxes since the 80s. It’s actually a European tradition that came here with my parents. We lived in Germany for quite some time and my mum has always done it.
To answer the OP; I go traditional with mine;
PJS
Bath bomb or body wash (as neither of my children can use soap)
duvet covers
hot chocolate & marshmallows
mugs
book.
The only “new” things is the bath bombs, hot choc and marshmallows. I bought second hand PJs and we already have the duvet covers, mugs and the books.

Lostworlds · 24/12/2025 22:58

We do a Christmas book, some chocolate, fluffy socks and then add in their reindeer dust and a magic key. A couple of years ago I bought some Christmas pull back cars and walking character toys that are tiny so I usually add them in again as they always forget about them.
I usually give them their Christmas pjs at the start of December so they can wear them throughout the month.

I know a lot of people hate the Christmas Eve box but we like to just make it easy going but I think as my children get older we will probably phase it out.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 24/12/2025 23:07

ToffeePennie · 24/12/2025 22:55

It’s not new at all.
I’ve had Christmas Eve boxes since the 80s. It’s actually a European tradition that came here with my parents. We lived in Germany for quite some time and my mum has always done it.
To answer the OP; I go traditional with mine;
PJS
Bath bomb or body wash (as neither of my children can use soap)
duvet covers
hot chocolate & marshmallows
mugs
book.
The only “new” things is the bath bombs, hot choc and marshmallows. I bought second hand PJs and we already have the duvet covers, mugs and the books.

European tradition in countries where Christmas Eve is the main event, like Germany. Not in the UK where that happens the day after, on the 25th.

Happilyobtuse · 24/12/2025 23:11

This is the first time I have done it, felt bad for the kids as we aren’t having our regular friends over this time. All our family is abroad and this year the two close friends we catch up with at Christmas are also abroad!

Christmas eve box

  • Christmas pyjamas
  • Santa mug with hot chocolate and cookie
  • Christmas theme story book
  • Santa diary
  • Santa hats and santa and elf spectacles
  • Colour your own christmas stocking and felt tips
Nearly all of it was from the works. The pjs from Sainsbury and the santa mugs from next.
MumChp · 24/12/2025 23:11

The things in a Christmas Eve Box are in our stockings over December.

MumChp · 24/12/2025 23:13

ToffeePennie · 24/12/2025 22:55

It’s not new at all.
I’ve had Christmas Eve boxes since the 80s. It’s actually a European tradition that came here with my parents. We lived in Germany for quite some time and my mum has always done it.
To answer the OP; I go traditional with mine;
PJS
Bath bomb or body wash (as neither of my children can use soap)
duvet covers
hot chocolate & marshmallows
mugs
book.
The only “new” things is the bath bombs, hot choc and marshmallows. I bought second hand PJs and we already have the duvet covers, mugs and the books.

Which countries? Most European countries celebrate Christmas on the evening 24th and are done by now.

Cel77 · 24/12/2025 23:15

Nothing. They have plenty to look forward to tomorrow...

Wingingit73 · 25/12/2025 05:33

Nothing. Just xmas day. Seems a bit ott.

Tretweet · 25/12/2025 06:39

My daughter got three books (to fit in with the Icelandic book flood idea, and also because she will sadly not care about books with all the presents tomorrow, so appreciates them more on Christmas Eve). New PJs, and her traditional hot chocolate marshmallows with the face of a polar bear. And the last days of her advent calendars of course!

Punkerplus · 25/12/2025 06:55

Parker231 · 24/12/2025 15:50

Aren’t they the things which go in a stocking or is this instead of?

I was going to say this. What do people put in stocking then? We don't do them, they already get a stocking and presents. They don't need more on top of this.

SophieJo · 25/12/2025 06:58

Orangeorganic · 24/12/2025 16:07

We don’t do Christmas stockings, the Christmas Eve boxes are kind of in place of those I guess

So what did you do before making up the boxes?
It seems to be a trend that came in recently, loved by retailers of course.

Netaporter · 25/12/2025 07:14

I’ve done a xmas Eve box since Santa was no longer a thing. Seemed more grown up, plus a way to make sure that decent pj’s were worn for the next morning (if you have teenage girls you’ll know they like to wear random shite to bed 😂). This year the box had been pj’s (standard) a Terry’s chocolate orange (standard) a sheet mask (standard) and 4 margarita buzz balls (new entry for this year) alcohol has slowly replaced a dvd over the latter years...so we watched The Roses on Disney+ (very good, would recommend!) DD and her mates are making next year’s Xmas decs out of empty green and red buzz ball containers for their Uni accommodation next year so these were a hit.

worstthreewords · 25/12/2025 07:25

JuliesName · 24/12/2025 15:40

Christmas PJs
Book
Coloring book
Christmas playdoh
Hot chocolate
New cup
Tree ornament

Isn’t this just stocking filler stuff? I don’t get it.

JuliesName · 26/12/2025 11:56

worstthreewords · 25/12/2025 07:25

Isn’t this just stocking filler stuff? I don’t get it.

Stockings are opened Christmas morning, so no. The Christmas Eve Box is for him to enjoy on Christmas Eve.

So we wear our new PJs, drink hot chocolate in our new cups, read a story and usually colour or play with the small toy (in this year, PlayDoh). We put the new ornament celebrating the past year on the tree etc.

We do stockings with usually more 'needs' or small items. So Toothbrush, usually more pyjamas but not Christmassy, some sweets etc.

Christmasiscoming2025 · 27/12/2025 16:52

We do pjs, socks, an activity/something to do, something to eat, something to drink and a bauble and a bath bomb goes in our child’s for his Christmas Eve bath 🥰

IhadaStripeyDeckchair · 27/12/2025 16:55

Nothing

They're a wanky invention to make people spend even more money on unnecessary tat, they create even more work (& associated guilt) for mothers & send out a confusing message to children about Christmas.

user65342 · 27/12/2025 17:07

I always used to do a family Xmas eve box so pyjamas, but not necessarily Xmas themed ones, a dvd of an Xmas film and some popcorn and sweets so we could have an Xmas eve film night. Basically stuff I would buy anyway at some point.

Peridoteage · 27/12/2025 17:10

Nothing? It seems to overlap with what is in a stocking, so I'm not really sure what the point is.

This year i did randomly see some reduced christmas themed bath bombs in the supermarket and got one each to bribe them to go up for a bath on christmas eve but there's no box or fuss.

My kids get christmas pyjamas around mid november when the weather gets colder & wear them all winter.

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