Christmas Eve boxes

[Yoyo2021]

Son had just come home from school and told me that some of his class had Xmas breakfasts this morning as it’s the 1st December and asked why we did not have one… I just did not know this was a thing but it clearly is as today on my Facebook plenty of others doing it. It made me think about Xmas Eve boxes too I just never do those either…. The extra cost etc on top of everything has just always been too much!

Anyway, do any of you do Xmas Eve boxes and if so what do you put in them?

"Its just me and my son here and I work full time. I’ve just bought a house and with the price rise of things and some of the work I need to get done. I just haven’t got the time it extra money to do it. "

Exactly! You are doing amazing things here looking after your son and working hard and buying a house! That's a lot. All stuff that's more important that a breakfast! You prioritise you and your son and don't worry about what others are doing. Do what's important to you.

Only time I've done breakfast was when the elves done it. Xmas eve boxes I've done since my DD15 was 2.....elves I started when she was 3.....then had to continue an extra few years because we had another child when DD was 5 who still staunchly believed the magic.

@TooHotToRamble

Totally agree

Christmas eve as kids we were allowed to open one present. It was always a pair of PJs. With my DS (3) I have 2 boxes, I got from pound land and reuse each year. On 1st of December the elf arrives, in one box ans he brings the advent calendar, Christmas PJs (so he can wear more than once) and Xmas jumper (which he'll wear for Xmas jumper day anyway. On Christmas eve the other box contains a book and PJs with his favourite characters on. Also chocolate. Theres also reindeer food, which can be home made and santas magic key.

Why not get a (cheapish) box and give it empty to your dc around about now. Then ask them to fill it with what they want to wear/do/eat on Christmas Eve! They could add their fave pyjamas, a board game you like to play together, some nice snacks, maybe even write down some suggestions on bits of paper for films etc, add their most Christmassy book. Several upsides to this approach: they feel involved and empowered, they have time to build it and get excited, the costs are minimal, you don’t have to make room for more “stuff”/you value what you’ve got already, and as a bonus, you get to find out what your score really loves about Xmas eve!

No, it's a pile of wank for people who just want to pose on social media rather than have genuine experiences with their kids.

No, it's a pile of wank for people who just want to pose on social media rather than have genuine experiences with their kids.

Where do the people who don't put it on SM fit into your little theory?

I have never once posted any of our traditions on social media... social media didnt even exist when we did them as a child (and we did do them, these things arent all as new as the naysayers insist).

A 1st of December North Pole breakfast is where you decorate table and do a three course breakfast.

On a Thursday morning before work and school?!

I don’t do a box, but I do a new Christmas book for Xmas eve. We have a santa plate we get out for the mice pie and carrot. That’s it.

On 1 Dec we start refillable advent calendar, wearing Xmas Pj’s, socks and clothes which DD loves. Then they get used at least as she grows so fast!

I do Christmas Eve boxes. They have some pj’s, socks, sweets, a bath bomb and some kind of novelty / activity. I don’t spend a fortune but it keeps them entertained for a good while on Christmas Eve afternoon.

I know right. Those three or four hours are fucking TORTUOUS otherwise aren't they?

Loving all the ideas . Helped me a lot

I only even heard about "Christmas eve boxes" for the first time last year... I won't be doing them for a few reasons: 1. can't be arsed, 1. everything in it is the sort of stuff I'd put in a stocking anyway... 2. because of 1, I feel like it takes away a bit from the specialness of Christmas day, 3. I just think it's unnecessary and a very blatant attempt by to squeeze even more money out of us...

Maybe I'm a miserable sod, but no, you're not the only person not doing it.

I'm now off to google wtf a "Christmas breakfast" is...

I’ve been doing them since before they were a thing you could buy actual CE boxes for! I won’t go into my whole spiel again but the gist is Stillborn son - due Christmas Day - He borrows magic from Santa to deliver box of goodies to his brothers - my living sons ADORE getting this box from him every year and it lets us bring him into the day in a happy way.

They're teenagers now so don’t believe (that was a sad day for me) but still love the box and still talk about it as if it’s from DS2 and whenever they wear the new jammies they say, "look, I’m wearing DS'2's pyjamas!" which makes me happy.

This year they have:

Fake Primark version of an Oodie x2
Fancy Popcorn box x2
Giant Marshmallows
Fancy hot chocolate
Fanch chocolate x2
Pyjamas x2
Pop tarts x2
S’mores kit
Hot water bottles x2
Reusable drinks bottles x2
Blankets x2
3kg tub Nutella

I've just finished wrapping it and had to show you so that you all (even those who hate the boxes) can praise my fabulous Tetris packing. 😆 There's actually a box that sits in that empty space perfectly but I had to take it out so you could admire how snugly it all fits!

Definitely agree, a box of landfill tat and sugar. Just puts parents under more pressure to buy shite they can't afford and kids don't need.

We do a Christmas box but give it on 1st December and maybe replenish it on Christmas Eve. Most of the stuff we’ve collected over the years - so it’s reused year after year and the kids love playing with it all again. We have a playmobil nativity set, Christmas books (night before Christmas book is saved for Christmas eve as well as a Christmas film on dvd, and santas special plate), Christmas stamps / ink pad, reindeer deelyboppers, Christmas finger puppets, rubix cube, Christmas snap cards etc and pjs (usually fit from year before or size up if new)

Only things bought new each year are some craft decorations to make like paper chains, a selection box and a new decoration each which we hang on the tree

My twins are only 2.5, so just discovering what Christmas is about.

I got lovely wooden boxes, which I plan to use every year.
Next weekend I'll give the boxes to them. They'll contain:
Xmas pjs
Xmas slippers
Xmas book
Xmas Personalised book
Bauble for the tree
Xmas coloring book and crayons
Xmas window stickers
Some cheap plastic tat (pop-up Santa)
Chocolate coins

I can't wait to see their faces as they explore the treats in the boxes.

I have absolutely no SM except this..
'Tis a heavenly situation... guilt free mother ...

All these boxes/breakfasts it’s just greed and consumerism.

you know what else makes me 🤢?
Graze boxes stuffed full of sweets. Seen so many people selling or buying these for Christmas.
Its just overindulgence.
My dc get pjs Christmas Eve and some sweets and hot chocolate.
But the grand gestures of graze boxes, and tat honestly makes me feel ill

I do but I fill the same box I’ve had for a few years with cheap stuff from lidl / aldi / eBay. I quite like it because I put cheap hot chocolate stirrers in, festive pjs and a little game and it’s great as it promotes family time on xmas eve.

how is it 'squeezing more money out of you' when you just admitted you buy all that stuff already?

Last year was the first time I've done one. I put an oodie (cheap fake version for £15), fluffy socks and a few cheap Christmas treats. My daughter absolutely loved it and was asking if she will get one this year. I intend to put a cheap Christmas PJ, fluffy socks from Primark (as you can't have too many) and a few Poundland/Aldi Christmas treats. Should hopefully be cheap.

I had a christmas eve box as a kid, I used to get a new set of pyjamas, an orange, some sweets and a new book.

I don't get all the hate and vitriol. If you don't like it, don't do it. We could sit here and compare what 'they get plenty on Christmas day' means, but that's pedantic.

I personally don't like a huge, overwhelming pile of presents on Christmas day. My family have our own system to keep the gifting under control and not make it all materialistic and commercialised. Maybe you don't do Christmas Eve boxes but go overboard (IMO) on Christmas day. Maybe you have a large or generous extended family that also go overboard for your children. Some of us don't. As a child growing up, my favourite memories of Christmas are my new pj's to wear on Christmas Eve - over 30 years ago - and my early morning stocking. We also always had plenty of treats to choose from, also not a new thing. Sorry if that makes you 'sick' 🤷‍♀️ There is a world outside of your personal experiences.

Well I’m starting using my Christmas mug with a Robin on it today red cosy slipper socks it’s my hibernation day where I live in cosy pjs next year I’ll have Christmas pjs.