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Original poster

Are we the only parents who don't do Christmas Eve boxes?

241 replies

User6447482684755 · 21/09/2022 13:50

we have just never bothered, something else for me to think about too!

They've never questioned why they don't get one. They weren't even a thing a few years ago right?

I was Christmas shopping today (I know, early but I don't often get much chance to shop mid week when kids are at school). The cashier picked up on me buying for Christmas and was chatting nicely, she says oh well you give your kids a Christmas Eve box yeah? Just her assuming that all kdis have one. She meant well but I am questioning myself now.

I was like no we don't!

we tend to visit family on Christmas Eve and gifts are exchanged and sometimes opened early (from family). We always have take away on Christmas Eve!

that is our tradition.

we have an elf on the shelf but we do it our own way. Sometimes I wish I never started though.

we also don't bother with the whole matching PJ thing.

we tend to just do things our way without following any fads! That's okay, right?

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 27/09/2022 15:55

Natsku · 27/09/2022 15:06

I call it Joulu now anyway, which is Yule and not anything to do with Jesus.

And that’s fair enough!

ShowOfHands · 27/09/2022 20:19

MissyB1 · 27/09/2022 14:15

Yes im sure there was always a midwinter festival, but why on earth would you think that was “Christmas”? By all means celebrate anything you like, whenever you like, but “Christmas” is named for the Christian festival celebrating the birth of Christ.

Show quote history

Guinea pigs aren't pigs, white chocolate isn't chocolate, the Union Jack isn't the flag, Big Ben isn't the tower, jellyfish and star fish are neither jellies, stars nor fish.

Welcome to English where borrowing words or appropriating language or bowing to common usage is the norm.

It's nigh on impossible to divorce the word Christmas from the cultural. You don't have to like it I suppose but I doubt they were too happy when the Christians overwrote the festival in the first place.

Hollywolly1 · 10/12/2022 19:52

I find it rather worrying that you need to ask opinions of other's on this, this is disgusting

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 10/12/2022 19:55

00100001 · 27/09/2022 06:38

Busy doing what?

Show quote history

Drinking mulled wine and wrapping stuff.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 10/12/2022 19:56

Hollywolly1 · 10/12/2022 19:52

I find it rather worrying that you need to ask opinions of other's on this, this is disgusting

What's "disgusting"?!

Hollywolly1 · 10/12/2022 19:59

I replied to the wrong thread, so sorry😂honestly I don't know how it happened

vinoandbrie · 10/12/2022 20:02

No elf and no Christmas Eve boxes.

SilverCatStripes · 10/12/2022 20:06

Hi OP if it makes you feel better I don’t do Christmas Eve Boxes, or Elf on the Shelf either, it’s a load of shite which people just do so they can then post about it on social media and congratulate themselves on what a fun parent they are.

RandomUsernameHere · 10/12/2022 20:25

We don't do them. We go to my ILs on Xmas eve, the DCs will be given more than enough tat and sugary junk food, I'm certainly not buying any more of it!

Daffodilis · 10/12/2022 20:29

We do a Christmas box, usually Quality Street 😆

thenewaveragebear1983 · 10/12/2022 20:42

I’m doing a box this year but only because we are going to a cottage in the middle of nowhere and I’m doing a family treat box: a game, a few treats, hot chocolates etc that I would have bought anyway, to bring out if we hit a lull in the festivities 😂

Soccermumamir · 10/12/2022 20:44

We don't do Christmas Eve boxes, but the boys do have a Xmas eve stocking instead. They get Xmas PJ'S, chocolate and a takeaway menu to choose their tea from 😆

EastEndQueen · 10/12/2022 21:17

I do them. Very simple ones with Xmas pyjamas for the children (aged 3+6) which will be be worn all year round, a Christmassy/ snow themed book, chocolate coins and ‘reindeer food’ (oats in a draw string bag). This year I spotted a lovely small Christmas Eve puzzle box from orchard toys so they can have that too to share. It’s a nice tradition to spread out the fun I think. Didn’t have them growing up, but my parents used to let me open one or two presents on Xmas eve which is broadly the same thing imo.

Agree that there is a degree of snobbery in not doing them which is unpleasant. Do them or don’t, but judgement not needed

EastEndQueen · 10/12/2022 21:21

PS: No elf but that’s broadly because cba in the mornings with trying to get the DC out to school. Besides I find him creepy

ShowOfHands · 10/12/2022 21:41

SilverCatStripes · 10/12/2022 20:06

Hi OP if it makes you feel better I don’t do Christmas Eve Boxes, or Elf on the Shelf either, it’s a load of shite which people just do so they can then post about it on social media and congratulate themselves on what a fun parent they are.

Too right @SilverCatStripes

My granny (born 1889) did treats on Christmas Eve for her babies and so has every generation of our family since. She was a right social media hungry harridan. She used to get Sam the Etch to take her likeness in charcoal and then would walk up and down Common Side with her likeness aloft her head, shouting "hashtag making memories".

I have carried on the tradition without the etchings because Sam died of the consumptives in '11 and his only son lost his sketching hand at Ypres.

GrinAndVomit · 11/12/2022 09:02

I’m in my thirties and we always got one. It wasn’t a Christmas Eve box but just a tradition where my Nan’s present was always pyjamas, slippers dressing gown and hot chocolate and a VHS which we would be allowed to open on Christmas Eve.

I think she might have invented Christmas Eve boxes in the early 90’s hahah

elephantcandle · 11/12/2022 09:21

No we dont. Im not British so dont do some of the UK things.

SuperSue77 · 11/12/2022 18:02

No Christmas Eve box here or Elf on the Shelf. I do give them new PJs on Christmas Eve though and they have a stocking on Christmas morning. They also have advent calendars but only the cheapo chocolate ones. It does feel as though it has all got totally out of hand and just makes parents feel worse if they can’t keep up with all the fads. We don’t do trips to go ice skating or see Santa - I must sound like Scrooge to some parents! But my kids know they are loved to pieces and don’t go without basics, they get plenty of treats throughout the year too - we just don’t splurge the cash all the time.

Bluebellsparklypant · 11/12/2022 23:03

Never done one and not about to start now like why are these even a thing now

HappyMarriage · 11/12/2022 23:05

We give new books on Christmas Eve because I find they’re never they excited by books on Christmas Day itself because there is so much else going on so this way they seem to appreciate the books more

BabyFour2023 · 11/12/2022 23:10

Bluebellsparklypant · 11/12/2022 23:03

Never done one and not about to start now like why are these even a thing now

They’re not “a thing now”
Im 31 and my siblings and I used to have one growing up in the 90s.

OodieBoogie · 12/12/2022 00:23

Bluebellsparklypant · 11/12/2022 23:03

Never done one and not about to start now like why are these even a thing now

They've been "a thing" for years and years.

00100001 · 12/12/2022 06:52

They're definitely more mainstream. You never used to see Christmas Eve boxes in the supermarket like you do now.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 12/12/2022 10:48

I actually wouldn't mind a Xmas eve box if it was just one for the whole family but my MIL has given us one each filled with lots of stuff we won't use/don't need.all I want is a box with some pyjamas, a hot chocolate sachet, maybe some nice chocolate and maybe a new yoto story for bedtime for the kids. Or a book.

That's it. Me and DH don't need a spiced berry room diffuser each! My littlest has been given a hot food container which is fine as a Xmas gift but why is it in a Xmas eve box? It's just silly!

WaddleAway · 12/12/2022 11:08

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 12/12/2022 10:48

I actually wouldn't mind a Xmas eve box if it was just one for the whole family but my MIL has given us one each filled with lots of stuff we won't use/don't need.all I want is a box with some pyjamas, a hot chocolate sachet, maybe some nice chocolate and maybe a new yoto story for bedtime for the kids. Or a book.

That's it. Me and DH don't need a spiced berry room diffuser each! My littlest has been given a hot food container which is fine as a Xmas gift but why is it in a Xmas eve box? It's just silly!

Silly, but very generous of them. Sounds like they’re just trying to do something nice of you all. Maybe you can have a word before next Christmas so they don’t do it again? I’m sure they wouldn’t want to buy you stuff anyway knowing you don’t want it.