Do you like Christmas Eve boxes?

[lottieandmia22]

I'm not sure whether to do one this year. I kind of feel that present giving should be on Christmas Day. OTOH it's making the most of Christmas perhaps?

Absolutely each to their own, but for me? Definitely not.

Seems like these days people are so desperate to 'make memories and 'create new traditions' and just throw money at it, rather than enjoying the moment, being together and the simplicity of actual Christmas.

I love Christmas Eve and I think this adds to the magic. I put in new jammies for me DH and both children, same night before Christmas book every year, the Christmas plates we made for each child’s first Christmas to leave mince pie and carrot on, Santa stop here sign (same every year), reindeer food, Christmas bath bomb, hot chocolate, popcorn and Christmas dvd (this year’s trolls Christmas one). I think it’s a lovely tradition and can be as expensive or cheap as you want to make it many things can be home made and if you don’t want to spend out then stick in things you already have in the cupboard just stick a bit of ribbon on or something. Like someone else said my memories of Christmas Eve were often of my mum getting very over stressed over very little and losing her shit and I do not want mine to have that experience. We as a family love it but totally respect the each to their own vibe, I don’t think you could say a child was deprived for not having one

Just more consumption. Not needed as xmas eve is exciting anyway.

No. I'd never heard of them before I started using mumsnet. I don't see the need for more consumerism. And like a previous poster we would be too busy prepping for the next day to sit down and chill in front of a film anyway.

Where does the thing of getting new pj's on xmas eve come from? I don't get it.

No. Mine get new onesies but the rest is excessive IMO.

We do one, we started when the ISS flew overhead one year and the elves left new pyjamas. Now it's a box (wrapping paper covered amazon one) magically delivered at some point when they aren't looking. It has pyjamas, a board game, sticker book, and this year some pokemon cards. Kind of takes some of the manic-ness out of the children and gives them a game to play with visiting older relatives. Doesn't detract from the joy of Christmas morning and makes a nice element to Christmas eve.

Christmas Eve is exciting enough already for small children!
People who ramp it up this way are creating too much expectation.
But, my family are not very materialistic, and Christmas definitely isn't about over-consumption for us.

No.

My children don't need any more 'stuff' to feel that Christmas is special.

Carrot out for Rudolph, log on to the online Santa tracker & they are very happy with that.

We just do new pj's, bubble bath, toothbrushes, snowman soup sachets and usually a new book. It's stuff they would be getting anyway, and it means they are all in nice pjs for the obligatory Xmas morning photo!

I put in

• Pyjamas

- Popcorn - Voucher for 1 hr of games with DH and DS - their choice of table or computer ones and a guarantee of cheerfulness( I loathe most games usually but DS loves them)

• Santa key and cup for his treat (reused every year)

I used to put in a dvd (I love a good Xmas film on Xmas Eve) but DS is really not into films and gets restless/bored

I also love Xmas Eve more than Xmas day. I rarely host though (for all sorts of complicated family reasons) so we often spend xmas day travelling to relatives/friends.

I always make sure we are home on Xmas Eve and morning. Those times are our "together" time. I don't have prep to do and it is a really chilled time usually.

We always have to go to my MiL's for Christmas, miles away from home so I'm doing a Christmas eve eve eve box for home so they can have something to open at home. Most of the stuff is stuff we will then take away with us or have in the car- PJ's, slipper socks, some chocolate and a story DVD for the car.

I have only heard of this on mumsnet but I think it sounds really nice and cosy. DS just turned 3 and I might do something this year. A Christmas book and a bath bomb sounds about right.

No. I think it's stupid.

I don't think they are a new thing really, my Mum always did them for me and DB and I'm 33! I now do one for DD. I think it's a lovely little tradition to start for her.

Not hoards of new toys though or anything expensive. Just the Santa plate, a new pair of PJs and a book/film which we sit and read or watch snuggled up with a hot chocolate before bed.

"Just more commercial materialistic shite that we are all meant to do"

^^Agreed! As if there aren't enough pressures already to spend money! As for Christmas pyjamas??!! Wtf? What a monumental waste of money!

Before too long, so many children will be receiving these boxes that they will become almost obligatory and children will feel hard done by if they don't get one. I'm glad this nonsense didn't exist when my DCs were children.

Each to their own certainly, but some of the views against it are a bit uncharitable and not exactly in the Christmas spirit....desperate, materialistic, excessively consumerist being some of the phrases. Can’t you say “not for me” we do “xyz” without casting aspersions on people who do it differently?

We do our fair share of winter walks, charity giving, Carol singing, drying out oranges, baking, making paper chains, reading stories...getting some new pyjamas and some snacks arranged in a box on Christmas Eve doesn’t mean we are rabid materialists, anymore than not doing it makes you Scrooge.

Anyway I do it because I don’t find it ramps up the excitement, rather it settles them down and makes them happy to get in bed and since my ds is particularly anxious it works well for us.

My two are little but I have a box that will have the same as last year - nighty before Christmas book, a Christmas film (whatever has been watched least by then!), a little nativity book and nativity puppets and a sticker book. That's it. The sticker book is the only thing that will be updated as it gets used but only a cheap one.

I work most Christmas Eve nights so it's more for my husband to have something different just to entertain them before bed! No pyjamas or sweets or anything else like that in there!

Add “stupid” “nonsense” and “shite” since I posted, Merry Christmas to you all

I don’t buy Christmas pyjamas but when I have in the past they wear them as long as any others; until they don’t fit.

I did them one year, my DC weren't especially excited about them so I stopped bothering. It's another made up tradition imo.

What's with all the DVDs? Is it 2005?

We do. It contains hot chocolate , cholocate treat , pjs (given early this yr) , a couple of Christmas activity books and a film/ game. It’s nice as wind down

We have loads of DVDs, mostly bought from charity shops. My kids watch them all the time. We can't afford Sky/Prime etc.