Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas Eve Boxes - what's the point?

184 replies

imaddictedtomn · 18/10/2017 22:19

My friend and I were out today and saw a place selling Christmas Eve boxes.

The woman selling them said they were very popular.

Is this a thing now?

My friend and I were of the same mind - Do DC's not get enough on Christmas Day that they have to have more stuff on Christmas Eve?

Or are we missing something?

OP posts:
IToldYouIWasFreaky · 19/10/2017 10:44

I get why people like it but I don't get why it's such a key thing that people feel They have to mention it as being essential to their xmas.

Again, who has? People have said they enjoy having it at Christmas in much the same way as people enjoy having mince pies at Christmas. No one has said (that I've seen anyway!) that you HAVE to have hot chocolate at Christmas.

Please find me one example of where someone has said something more then just "we enjoy drinking hot chocolate at Christmas?"

christmasunicorn · 19/10/2017 10:44

* But why does hot chocolate need to be kept special? But not any other drinks. I don't get it.*

But why not keep it special? Our elf brings us pop tarts and lucky charms for a North Pole breakfast. Sure we could do this everyday, it’s just breakfast cereal, nothing special really. But we chose to keep it as a treat, because we can and it makes the kids happy to have it as a treat.

MomToWedThorFriday · 19/10/2017 10:45

Baileys is vile btw. Grin

Coconutspongexo · 19/10/2017 10:46

This is another each to their own thing and if it isn't harming anyone else I don't know why people care.

It's not a new thing my mum always done it with us, Pjs, book, colouring book and pens/pencils and a cake :)

Im doing it with my son, I like it.

HairsprayBabe · 19/10/2017 10:46

This is another each to their own thing and if it isn't harming anyone else I don't know why people care.

THIS!

With sleigh bells on

bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 19/10/2017 10:50

Christmasunicorn where do you get your lucky charms from?? We went to disneyland this year and dd (who has coeliac disease so didn't get an opportunity to sample too many American delights) absolutely loved them! Wanted to get a box for her for Christmas but struggling by to find them!

Coconutspongexo · 19/10/2017 10:51

Bogies B&M sell them!

bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 19/10/2017 10:53

Ooh fab thank you!! I'll have a look, she will be made up!

Alittlepotofrosie · 19/10/2017 10:53

Bailey's is disgusting I can't imagine why anybody would want to drink it much less ruin their Christmas with it.

BiddyPop · 19/10/2017 10:56

It's something that a lot of people have been quietly doing for years - either giving an activity to do during the day to keep DCs occupied, or else giving new PJs (and maybe some other bits) at bedtime to help persuade DCs to go to bed quickly on Christmas Eve.

We use a cardboard box, that holds Christmas decorations most of the year.

The family copy of "Twas the night before Christmas" and DD's stocking are part of it. And DD's plastic plate and glass (which are over 10 years old) with a Santa picture - which she puts Santa's snack on.

And the whole family gets new PJs - but that is as much because it is a useful time of year that we could do with a new pair.

The only indulgent thing is a naice hot choc each for us all, and a lush festive bath bomb each for DD and I.

In our case, it helps to lay out the stocking etc, and then signal to DD (with aspergers, so routine and signals are important) that its time for bath and bed. So she has her nice bath, new pjs, and into bed for the story.

It works for us, as we'd generally spend on most things anyway, and lots are re-used over and over. But it does seem to have become a "big thing" for lots in the Facebook and Instagram era.

As with all things Christmas (and in life generally), don't feel you need to do it if it doesn't suit your family. But it could be nice if it does work for you.

HairsprayBabe · 19/10/2017 10:57

Why do people insist on shitting on what other people like...

So you don't like Bailey's ... great bully for you. Not sure why you have to label it "vile" or "disgusting". When there must be millions who do like it as it is a global brand!

I don't like bacon or mushrooms or custard but I don't give a fuck if other people do!

Ginorchoc · 19/10/2017 10:58

I do the new PJ Christmas Eve thing, never knew why, it's not a tradition for my family, however now I know, it's because I'm working class so it's in my DNA my parents have mixed working and middle class background so probably decided to class up at Christmas and forego the tradition, bastards.

Although I must tell my proper posh Duchess friend to stop doing it otherwise she'll embarrass the poor children Grin

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 19/10/2017 11:00

Consumerist? It's a couple of pairs of pyjamas. The children wear pyjamas and they get a new pair at Christmas.

Hardly Imelda Marcos levels of excess is it? Grin

2014newme · 19/10/2017 11:02

@Ginorchoc Darling it's not the Xmas pj's it's the box from the elves that's working class. The duchess is safe.

HairsprayBabe · 19/10/2017 11:04

@Moving A couple of pairs of Pajamas! That is decadent!

When I was a child we only had an old sack to sleep in and we had to share it between three!

bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 19/10/2017 11:04

We do a sort of opposite Christmas eve box- we spend Christmas eve morning baking and fill it with cakes and other goodies and take it to our local police station to say thank you to the hard working policy officers keeping us safe over Christmas!! Kids love it :)

Ivymaud · 19/10/2017 11:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 19/10/2017 11:14

Is it Ivy?

lumpybumpylooloo · 19/10/2017 11:14

Bogies, that’s a really lovely idea!

2014, personally don’t see why an elf bringing a Christmas Eve box is any more ‘working class’ than Santa Claus leaving Christmas gifts under the tree. Also, in my experience, the only people who ever label things or people as ‘working class’ are actually very working class themselves and feel the need to ‘big themselves up’ by tearing others down.

Each to their own I say. I’m sure that everyone ultimately wants to give their children the most magical and enjoyable Christmas possible and will do so in any way they see fit.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 19/10/2017 11:16

Nothing wrong with being working class.

Being a crashing snob is not nice.

Shosha1 · 19/10/2017 11:17

IM 57 and my Mother did Christmas Eve boxes for myself and siblings as children

It would be pjs, new toothbrush, a chocolate, and a book.

We have all carried it on.

I did it with my son, he did it with his daughters and eldest DGD does it with her two.

It’s not a new thing, but as with most things has got more expensive with lots more in it I think.

I’m glad DGD has stuck with what we always put in. Although the book has become s card with a download in it now

lumpybumpylooloo · 19/10/2017 11:19

Ivymaud, again I struggle to see the issue with people putting their tree up on 1st December or having an elf on the shelf. If it brings a smile to their children’s faces then they probably feel that it’s worthwhile.
You’re absolutely entitled to your opinion year you don’t see the need for these things in your family but you have no right to describe people that do as ‘those sort of people’.

Again, implies that you feel above them in some way- purely because they want to do something nice to make their children happy. That seems pretty sad to me.

2014newme · 19/10/2017 11:19

@Ivymaud I agree. Elf on the shelf, excessive Xmas eve gifts (beyond pj's) wrapped up as a gift box from an elf, obsession with a perfectly ordinary drink and excess mountains of Xmas presents often being a load of tat bought 3 for 2 are not my idea of Christmas.

Ivymaud · 19/10/2017 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 19/10/2017 11:22

Ho ho ho at the irony IvyMaud Grin

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.