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Original poster

Christmas eve vs 1sr December boxes

66 replies

ItsAllBlahBlahBlah · 09/08/2021 07:07

Hi all. Just wondering what others do as my two boys are only little (3 and 1) so we're finding our way wirh christmas traditions. Last year I did an Xmas eve box with pj's slippers, book etc in. I've just read something about 1sr Dec boxes though with similar items which to me makes more sense as they get more wear. What do you all do? I mean if I put the pj's in for 1sr Dec it seems to rule our an Xmas eve box which was nice... 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsAllBlahBlahBlah · 09/08/2021 07:08

Urgh fat finger syndrome... Sorry for the typos.

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DGFB · 09/08/2021 07:09

Neither. All the presents on Xmas day here. We do buy Christmas pJs that they wear from
End of Nov

Original poster
ItsAllBlahBlahBlah · 09/08/2021 07:11

Ah OK. I really didn't get the pj's in christmas eve last year tbh as my boys only wore them a handful of times (and I then moaned how much they cost as they were a family set they will no longer fit in!)

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Original poster
ItsAllBlahBlahBlah · 09/08/2021 07:11

Think I might start a new tradition for pj's on 'tree up day' (as with us that may be end of Nov)

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Marmite27 · 09/08/2021 07:14

Mine get a box of stuff on 1st dec. a new decoration for the tree, their Christmas themed clothes and pjs.

I still do a Christmas Eve box, it’s just the same pjs that go in. Our Christmas Eve box only has pjs, the night before Christmas book, the Santa tray and a bath bomb though.

MrsBellamy · 09/08/2021 07:14

I do 1st December boxes so that kids get a full month of wearing their PJs etc.
Our elf on the shelf usually brings them along with advent calendars, and the Xmas dvds and books (same ones reused every year) elf also takes the dvds and books home on Xmas eve as well so we don't have to watch them all year round.

We also do a Christmas thing each day, advent calendar will tell us what the activity is on any given day, and the supplies for art/baking whatever are all in the 1st dec boxes too.

Starjammer · 09/08/2021 07:15

We do new PJs on Xmas eve and a new bedtime story, but we wear the PJs all year round. I wore Christmassy ones last night Grin I wouldn't buy new PJs to just get worn a handful of times, especially for multiple people. We just use them as part of normal PJ rotation.

Original poster
ItsAllBlahBlahBlah · 09/08/2021 07:19

Ah OK makes sense. So the christmas pj's (albeit not new ones) go back in the box at Christmas eve. We're amateurs 🙄. Gives me something else to plan for tree up day though, hooray. Love Christmas planning 😍

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HungryHippo11 · 09/08/2021 07:24

If you want to get Christmassy stuff it makes a lot more sense to do it on 1st December so they get some use out of it rather than only wearing (for example) pyjamas for one night.
We get the "christmas box" down around 6th December, which has christmas books, DVDs, a nativity scene, some Christmas playmobil etc. Its the same stuff every year or sometimes we add a few extra bits, we don't dress it up like another present just get the box down when we put the tree up.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 09/08/2021 07:24

The whole idea behind the PJs on CE tradition is having new PJs to wear in photos on Christmas morning. Don't need to be Christmas themed.

Its Christmas mugs, craft kits etc it makes more sense to give earlier.

It can be really easy to go overboard and overwhelm small children. Don't stress over it. If they don't need new slippers or mugs, you don't need to buy them.

I bought Christmas bedding when mine were baby&2. Has been used every year (now 8&10) but they weren't as keen last last year.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 09/08/2021 07:24

I have not done this but I thought the idea with new pjs was so The kids look nice n photos of Christmas morning, and possibly to lure them into bed when over excited on Xmas eve. So that would suggest new (but not Xmas themed or you would hardly fee any use of them) pjs on Xmas eve....

GreenTortoise · 09/08/2021 07:27

I get Christmas pj's for the beginning and a toy advent calendar. Then I put together a Christmas Eve box for DS.

GreenTortoise · 09/08/2021 07:29

Which will have pj's usually but I got a very sweet Christmas Pluto onesie that will fit him this year also so I stored it away last year.
A dvd, a little toy, box and a dvd.

LittleFroggie · 09/08/2021 07:31

We do a Dec 1st celebration (usually a fancy breakfast) with a few standard gifts that are the same every year and just brought down from the loft: their advent calendars, their elves, the Christmas books, their Santa teddies, a few Christmas themed games. These stay out all December. We also bring the decorations and lights etc ready to go and pick the tree. I often buy them a new Christmas jumper and pjs during December if we see something nice but these would be chosen together. On Christmas Eve they get their box. They have a few things that are the same every year again: a magic key for Santa, their bells to add to the tree, a little jar I fill with bird seed (reindeer food for sprinkling round the garden) and then one thing I buy each year is a new pair of matching pjs. These are new for Christmas Eve but kept and worn through the heat as normal pjs after the event.

lannistunut · 09/08/2021 07:39

We do an activity advent calendar (which basically preps us for Christmas e.g. make mince pies, make crackers, go to pantomime, write cards plus watching films and going to local things like the Christmas market) and then everything else is on Christmas Day.

My honest view is doing Christmas Eve boxes dilutes it, doesn't add to it at all. Same with Dec 1st. The whole point of Christmas is the build up, if you take that out you diminish it.

You can't invent Christmas traditions, they evolve. For example we didn't start making our own crackers until the eldest was 12, now it is an annual treat. So you've lots of time to let things develop in the way that reflects your family.

Lemonsyellow · 09/08/2021 07:39

Neither. Mine do tend to get pjs, but they get them on Christmas Day as one of their presents. Otherwise, an advent calendar is all you need. We always just had cardboard ones.

tintodeverano2 · 09/08/2021 07:44

The thing is, if you start doing a Xmas eve box or whatever, expectations for it get bigger each year! It's hard to keep up with the cost if its getting bigger and better every time.

I just do new pjs (not Xmas themed so they can wear whenever) on Xmas eve. And we have a takeaway.

JaffaRaf · 09/08/2021 07:48

Our elves bring a few things on the 1st December, normally like Christmas activity books and Christmas glasses or something. And then the Christmas Eve box has pajamas in but we get them new character pajamas rather than Christmas themed ones, and we get them Christmas socks (plus other treats).

DGFB · 09/08/2021 07:55

Also agree that Christmas Eve boxes rose away from the excitement of the big day. And you don’t know what’s to come in your future. If you’re hard up one year you might be glad you spent all your cash on the main presents

Original poster
ItsAllBlahBlahBlah · 09/08/2021 08:03

This is all really helpful. I'm going to strip it back I think and as others have said put the christmas books away to come out in 1st December (or tree up day) and put christmas pj's in the christmas eve box with their Christmas milk bottle with straw things (from last year to be swapped with a mug in the future) as opposed to buying new bits. Maybe u will add a hot choc mix or something when they're older as a treat but draw the line at new toys etc. I actually like the idea of getting out old favorites Smile

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Incywinceyspider · 09/08/2021 08:16

I do a christmas eve box. Ours is a family box and it contains the "tools" we need for christmas eve. So their stockings and santa plate, along with a DVD (same one as last year), book and PJ's for everyone. My DS is still wearing his reindeer PJ's that he got last year. I'm not someone who cares if he wears christmas PJ's in August. They're getting a bit short now though!

Ladyrattles · 09/08/2021 08:29

My kids got main presents on Christmas Day, which always included a book and PJs... we still do this now they are all 18+ lol. On Boxing Day we used to give them a little party bag containing a few sweets & little items to play with eg spinning tops or writing things, and they'd always get a new board game to share. We still have the tradition of a new board game on Boxing Day.

Zzzzfthg · 09/08/2021 08:34

I will only have a 2 year old this Christmas but have decided not to do Christmas Eve boxes etc. As someone said, it's just more stuff isn't it and I imagine the contents gets more expensive as they get older! I will definitely do a little snack and drink for father Christmas on Christmas Eve and maybe a new board game we can play together as a family with party food bits etc as I remember doing that when I was younger and loved it!

Charliebradbury · 09/08/2021 08:37

We do 1st December box. So the elf brings them a box with new pjs, a Xmas jumper, Christmas crafts, and a new Christmas book along with their advent calenders. We don't do anything on Xmas eve, they are usually so excited anyway I don't like to add to it haha.

LowlytheWorm · 09/08/2021 08:41

I spread it out but it’s not extra cost etc. It’s what I’d have gotten anyway and stuff has built up over the years. So the end of November I will look out xmas duvet covers and pjs and put them on the beds on Dec 1st. The first weekend of advent we will have a North Pole breakfast and use Xmas cups or plates which then stay out for December. A box with all the Xmas books comes out early December and we add a new one each year. Now they are older these are often chapter book which we read together at night but they also love the old picture books for the nostalgia, as do I.
Your family, your traditions. On Xmas eve I feel there is already enough of a magical feel and we used to always go to church in the evening so they always slept after that as it was so late- not sure what will happen this year with the covid stuff so we will just play it by ear.
One thing I’d say is to try to buy nicer quality and add to it each year rather than b and m plastic tat that breaks and needs replaced each year.

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