What do you put in Xmas eve boxes?

[YukoandHiro]

Want to make a proper tradition of this now we have 2 children (3y and 2m). So far I've got:
Xmas activity book for toddler
Chocolate
Matching PJs
Night before Xmas book (which we have every year)

Doesn't seem much point getting a dvd when you can stream anything you want to watch.

What else do you guys include?

This year I've done the following:
Book (The Grinch Who Stole Christmas)
Activity book
Hot chocolate (Aldi snowman bomb this year)
Bath bombs
Cracker making kit
PJs
Popcorn/snacks for watching a film

Usually I'd put a Christmas cookie kit in but skipping that in favour of the cracker kit this year.

Ooh craft kit is a great idea, thanks

Might also get an xmas jigsaw

What time do you open the box? I always assumed early evening but if craft / activity books are included is it earlier?!

Nothing! Because it isn’t Christmas until the next day.
Christmas Eve is still Advent - a time of meditation, preparation, spiritual cleansing before the celebration of Christ’s birth. Equivalent to Lent before Easter.
Even if you are not a Christian and are just having a midwinter get together, Christmas Day surely becomes less special if you’ve already opened a load of presents the day before?

I'm doing hot chocolate mugs with all the extras - marshmallows etc, something crafty - maybe a gingerbread house, book for Xmas eve night, fluffy socks

I'm going to do DH one this year as I'm pregnant with twins so hugely cut back on gifts for each other so I'm going to do

• mini bottle of wine
• mini cheese board set
• snacks

We usually do:

Hot choc cones
New pjs
Popcorn
Matchmakers
Bath bombs
Gingerbread house kit
Xmas book
Xmas activity book
£30 for a takeaway
Xmas stickers
Xmas craft pack

Our elf leaves ours on Xmas eve morning when she goes back to Santa! So we have a full day of things to do.

I've put a lush bath bomb in DS' this year. The little baby bot bath bomb is good for your DS's age. Mines 2 and he gets so excited when he realises he's having a 'blue baff' 😂
Also we put snacks in there too like a chocolate Santa or something similar for him to eat while we watch a Christmas film.

@PeggyMoo We always give it in the morning so we then have activities set out for the day.

Stockings
Santa plate
Activity for the day

I'm doing a family one which will include:

• matching PJ's (I know it's cringey. I don't care. They'll be worn all year round)
• my old copy of twas the night before Christmas
• DS's stocking
• santa plate
• Spot's first Christmas
• bottle of mulled wine for the grown ups
• tree decoration with the year on

-something edible. Not sure what. I might bake some biscuits or something

Not convinced all this will fit in the box. The PJ's might need to go outside

@Babdoc I know what you mean. I was brought up in a very Christian household so I understand the concerns. BUT as we've all discovered this year lots of time at home in winter with young children isn't easy and I thought a few small things (some of which will be brought out every year like the book) helps to give the late afternoon/evening some focus and manage the crazies that break out with the excitement.

Bath bombs sound amazing! Sadly my dd has eczema so it's no go. Might buy one for myself though :)

We don’t have a box but my girls get new PJs and a book after bath time on Christmas Eve.

Christmas toys, books and craft materials go into the loft every year and are brought out at the start of December.

Ours comes out after dinner and is the gentle but inexorable mover towards bed.

Reused annually:
Cardboard box (that normally holds Christmas books and DVDs in storage - they're in use for December).
Family edition of "Twas the Night before Christmas"
DD's stocking
DD's snowman covered HWB (in use all winter)
DD's plastic Santa plate and glass (from toddler years, in cupboard to use all December but kept with decorations rest of the year)

New:
PJs for everyone (might or might not be festive patterned for DD and I, never festive for DH - but everyone could do with a pair each winter!)
Sometimes fluffy socks or slippers or a dressing gown (if needed)
Festive bath bomb for DD, relaxing bath bomb or bubbles for me, nice shower gel for DH
Hot choc for everyone (the lump of choc on a spoon type)
Christmas or winter craft beer for DH

After we've lit the Christmas Candle and remembered the good and bad about the year just finishing, and family/friends no longer with us, the box comes out and DD lays out her stocking and a cookie/milk for Santa.
She then goes for her bath and new PJs.
Comes back down for hot choc and a snuggle on the couch.
Then heads to bed with her HWB, where we traditionally read TTNBC to her in bed - but that part seemed to get phased out the last 2 years (she is now a teen - and knows that we know she knows about Santa, but if she leaves out her stocking and the snack, it still somehow gets filled each year because she has never told us she doesn't believe....but did ask DH last year if he would prefer a beer to milk as she laid them out ).

The past couple of years, the hot choc and snuggle has been longer than in previous years, but she knows herself she needs the sleep and happily heads up at a reasonable hour.

@baboc Harsh! What about those who have birthdays on Christmas Eve, it doesn't make Christmas Day any less special because they opened a boat load of presents on the Eve of Christmas.

I’m changing this year, from an Xmas Eve box to a 1st December box, as felt wearing Xmas pyjamas after Christmas was missing the festivities!
So matching pyjamas, an Xmas story book, and some Christmas colouring books/sticker books/crafts.
I would have popped in Xmas socks too, and usually get the boys and my OH some Xmas boxers, and the girls some Xmas earrings / hair accessories, but, we live abroad and in a pretty strict lockdown meaning we can’t leave our town so haven’t been able to go to any proper shops!
If we are allowed next week, then I’ll do a second box for maybe mid December, with those in, and another Xmas book.
Then on Christmas Eve I will do a hot chocolate bar with some chocolates and Xmas biscuits!

I do similar @mamawithfive as that way all the Christmas stuff can be used all month. SIL swap Christmas pjs and books amongst the children so nothing except the hot chocolate is new and the clothing elements go through quite a few children.

DMIL bought a gorgeous Christmas eve box for DS but it's quite small so I might put a pair of Christmas socks and a little book in it.

We are not doing it this year, dc’s are now older and Christmas Eve will just involve baking and a take away in the evening whilst watching a film. In the last we have done them and usually the box contains...

A book for bed time
A DVD to watch before bed
New PJ’s
Sweets/popcorn to eat whilst watching DVD

Sometimes I have added a bath bomb or bubble bath (mainly to encourage them to have a bath) 😂

Our have
Pjs
Slippers
Dressing gown
Annual
Fleece blanket
Bath bomb
Soft toy (warmies this year)
New mug
Sweets
Usually they also have new clothes and trainers plus tickets for the panto on christmas eve but not this year.

Pjs, book, and chocolate treat like the 3 for £1 ones in tesco (think Cadbury snowman, malteaser reindeer etc).

We always go out to kfc for Christmas eve dinner and its there when we get back.

Pyjamas, hot chocolate, new mug and a book.

Ours has the night before Christmas book, the stockings, the plate to leave out for Dana and carrot/ mince pie etc. Also any reindeer food we’ve made in the run up to Christmas.

We never did this when dd was small, I didn't know it was a thing! But I definitely would have if I'd known about it.

Just here for the bingo