Eve boxes & Xmas stockings & Xmas gift

[Somebodyimportant1]

I am looking for suggestions for eve boxes for a 9-year-old boy & 5-year-old girl. The gifts and stockings are all sorted but I don't know what to put in the eve boxes. I am thinking I would maybe cancel eve boxes this year. I think it's all just overindulgence, isn't it? But I am still eager to hear about ideas. Thanks

I don’t usually do boxes but have ordered a few bits which looked small but once delivered are too big to fit in stockings so think I will leave them out Xmas eve instead. Sweet trees, those Pringles crackers (which are huge!), a bath bomb cracker and I might give them the dvd out of their stocking early too so they can settle down early and watch that x

@MrJollyLivesNextDoor

Is this another American tradition that's caught on over here?

It's a thing that's been going for years and years. Having a specific box is definitely newer but I'm 34 and we got new pyjamas, slippers, sweeties and a new book on Christmas Eve since I can remember. I didn't have hit chick because I used to be sick with excitement (literally) My Grandma used to make new pyjamas for her children so they'd look smart on Christmas morning and my DM is 63.

And women complain that Christmas is all too much work and too expensive! Just don't bother with stuff like this!
New pjs and snuggle up to watch a film as a family that's special enough

We have one - we re-use the same box each year. DD gets pyjamas, fluffy socks, a book, some chocolate, & a pretty Christmas tree ornament. This year it's a sparkly unicorn. To go with all the other unicorn crap she's getting...

In DSs there's the obligatory (in our family!) New PJs, slippers and a new dressing gown (he needs one, he's grown out of his last one.) Some fluffy socks. Twas the night before Christmas book and a new book called "Father Christmas needs a wee". Santa plate. Written confirmation that he's on the good list. Some jingle bells. Reindeer ears. Bath bomb and a new flannel. And his (my old) stocking, or new pillowcase if the things arrive for me to finish it before tomorrow evening. A "nice list" badge. A tiny santa sticker book. Oh! And a chocolate snowman for hot chocolate at dinner time.

It's more than he'd usually have, but we've had a shit few weeks and he's been an absolute star. Everything will be reused, reworn, enjoyed and recycled. It will tickle him and that makes me happy.

I'm 45 and always got new nightie or pj's, slippers and dressing gown (if we'd outgrown the current one) on Christmas Eve. Mum would wrap them up and leave them on the back door step around 5pm, whilst she was bustling about in the kitchen, then she'd shout through to us kids "I heard something out the back, it sound like sleigh bells" and we'd rush outside - she always said they must have fallen off Santa's sleigh and he couldn't drop the rest off until we were bathed, new pj's on and fast asleep. We needed the nightwear and it was a nice way of making a pretty dull present more exciting. I still do it now with DD. She loves it and I hope it's a tradition she carries on as well.

DS will get some jingle bells to shake on Xmas Eve. A Santa mug, hot chocolate sachets, baby marsh mallows and a chocolate stirer. A snow dogs dvd I already own, caramel popcorn, and a Santa please stop here sign to leave by the front door.

We don't do Christmas Eve boxes as such but since I was little I've been getting a present in the evening ALWAYS new pjs and something junk good for breakfast - this year we have Xbox pjs and Reese's cereal for #1 and Unicorn pjs and Lucky charms for #2 :o

My dd has a Christmas eve box, that was always my tradition. Dp always opened a stocking of presents on Boxing Day!!

So for Christmas Eve box she has:
Christmas chocs
pjs and slippers
Bubble bath
Book

Stocking:
Shower gel
Hair bow
Lipstick
Lipgloss
Nail polish

Stocking is all poundshop items!

Iv kept it simple this year mine have pjs , socks a bell to ring at 6pm at the front door. Popcorn Xmas lolly pops and bath bomb. Xx

My DS aged 3 is getting in his Christmas Eve box:
Chocolate lolly pop (peppa pig)
‘‘Twas the night before Christmas’ book
Crayons (from the poundshop)
Christmas themed colouring book
A Father Christmas fisher price figure
Gingerbread bath bomb
Polar express dvd
Christmas themed stickers
A letter from Father Christmas
Plate for Father Christmas

The whole thing including the box cost about £5/£6 and some of it will stay in the box for following years (the book, plate, letter, dvd)
I mainly wanted activities we can do tomorrow to keep him busy!

We are not doing it this year, kids haven’t mentioned it so I don’t think they will miss it, they are excited about getting take away instead.

I don't do them but they get new pjs.

I normally do a Christmas Eve box for DD, I do think objectively it’s a bit excessive given that she will have lots to open on Christmas Day, but she’s an only child and we live far away from extended family so I guess I am overcompensating. Her box contains:

Christmas pjs (to match mine, both from Joules)
Lush bath bomb
Peppa Pig chocolate selection box
Novelty toy
Personalised wooden board to leave food and drink for Santa and Rudolph 😁

We do new PJs and a book on Solstice. It’s really just a sneaky way to get them excited about new PJs . And it makes sure the Christmas morning photos are in fresh new PJs rather than ratty old ones.

If you haven’t planned it, don’t bother.

Well, they have got a beautiful bespoke eve box I use every year & a Santa plate & milk bottle they use every year. My daughter does not like hot chocolate and they both have lots of PJs. They Dont watch DVDs anymore because they watch what they want on Netflix or prime. I Will just put snacks they like in the box with one or 2 gifts from their stocking. If anything comes to mind, I can pop to my local shop McColls or Tesco express or pick something up or when picking up xmas food order tomorrow. But it seems this would be the last year I would be doing eve boxes- it is simply unnecessary overindulgence. Big capitalist marketing strategy (or call it propaganda) that has got a hold on us.

We reuse the same book each year (Twas the night before Christmas), have the Santa plate and cup, magic key that goes on the door handle, reindeer food, a chocolate orange each, hot chocolate mix, new pjs each and reuse the Christmas cups, ginger bread house kit to keep them busy for a while so I can get on prep veg (or drink baileys 😂)

Mine have got new pyjamas, a new teddy and some chocolate. I also leave the magic key out for Father Christmas as we don’t have a fireplace!
In the evening we put the stockings under the tree and lay out the mince pie, carrot and drink. Can’t wait 😊

For me the Christmas Eve box is the "tools" we need for christmas eve. So stocking and santa plate, plus a film, book and PJ's. These are all new this year as it's our first year doing it, but my plan is to use mostly the same stuff every year. I've also put a 2020 tree decoration in there. It's more about traditions and family time than extra presents for me

It’s definitely not an American tradition.

New pajamas on Christmas Eve are a common American thing. We do them on December 1st instead so they get more festive season appropriate use.

I did hear of a tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve and then everyone in the family tucking into bed with a new book and some chocolate. DH won’t let me start that one because it would interfere with tooth brushing, but I love the idea

We put the same things in every year.

Crocheted Santa from MIL
Red Tinti bath colour
Santa facecloth
The Grinch DVD
'Twas The Night book
Gingerbread biscuits baked in the am

Plus new PJs for the Winter.

Like others...I put in pyjamas, Christmas socks, some chocolates and bath stuff..often a new mug too. None of it is luxury items ...rather things we'd get anyway!

Stargirl don't they build up rather a lot of crocheted santas!?

We’ve got Ickabog to start reading a chapter a night and chocolate stirrers, I think that’ll do this year

My lot get new pj’s and fluffy socks, a hot chocolate sachet, a bath bomb to share and then we put in our night before Christmas book and a film