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?

And for us, not for all clearly, but for us diluting that thrill of first presents with pyjamas and shower gel the night before just isn't going to ever happen.

That's how I feel too. Why not wrap the pyjamas and shower gel nicely and include them as presents on Christmas Day?

Why not keep the excitement and anticipation until it's actually Christmas?

Well I’ll be laughed at but don’t care I’ve never read night before Christmas so ordered 2nd hand a padded edition hoping the print will be nice and slightly bigger too. I’ll read Christmas Eve.

And for us, not for all clearly, but for us diluting that thrill of first presents with pyjamas and shower gel the night before just isn't going to ever happen. I can understand giving nice pyjamas as a present but they would be under the tree. I know some people exchange gifts Christmas eve, but nope, not here, first presents, stocking. It's was the twinkle of Christmas in my childhood and that is all we want a bit of twinkle on Christmas morning. The rest is just chasing that first hit high as far as I can tell!

Beautifully put - and that's exactly how I feel, although I don't think I was able to express it as well as you have. To me it would dilute the magic. I can understand the lovely cosiness off a christmas eve box I suppose, but nah, it's not for me!

Oh do stop scrabling for pearls to clutch, most of the standard stuff IN a christmas eve box is a legal requirement which is CLEARLY what I said.

There no law to give it on xmas eve but everyone saying 'I wouldnt buy that for my kids' are either lying, confused or straight up neglectful because they are basic requirements parents have to provide not 'gifts'.

The fact people get angry that other people choose to give them on a specific day instead of just sporadically on any random day is bizaare.

because the 'shower gel' is to be used to get ready for bed and for them to be wearing nice new PJs in the photos/videos of opening gift.

Whats the point of giving them on xmas, thats just trying to pass neccessities off as a gift and isnt even practical because its past the point you would want to use them (yes they can be used all year round but how often are you videoed or seeing people in your PJs other than xmas day as a kid?).

I'm really not sure what the issue is in giving nice versions of basics to enjoy on Christmas Eve specifically. I used to love my Christmas Eve bath and new pjs. That was part of my family's Christmas tradition.

We do Christmas Eve boxes. I always think about wanting to put something quirky in like this!

www.instagram.com/p/Cl0QnZKpSKE/

Exactly this. The new pj's were to make you feel nice going to sleep and then for the photos the next day. Disagree wholeheartedly that they dilute the magic - the entire point was to add to it. As children we always had regular pyjamas, now Christmas pyjamas are so readily available I tend to opt for these with my own children, but they also happily wear them year round! Generally they are nicer quality pj's than I would routinely buy too, so a proper treat.
Then they also have a new Christmas book which I write a letter inside to each of the children. It's such a lovely, wholesome tradition, baffles me how anyone can call that commercialised or diluting the magic.

Disagree wholeheartedly that they dilute the magic - the entire point was to add to it.

For some they add, for others they don't, but why can't people just accept others do things differently? There's no right way to do Christmas.

New PJ’s for photos! Now I’ve heard everything

It's not exactly a new thought though, in fairness ...

And anyway, who cares? If people like new PJs on Christmas Day, what is it to you?

most of the standard stuff IN a christmas eve box is a legal requirement

I'm still not sure I agree that there's a legal requirement to give children Christmas pyjamas, sweets, bubble bath or Christmas books on the day BEFORE Christmas?!

Don’t feel like you need to do one just to keep up with everyone else. They’ll be off school anyway on Christmas Eve and they’ll be long forgotten by the time they go back to school! I used to work in schools and the children would always come back and tell you all about the tiniest present they got like chocolate 😂.

No one has said xmas PJs?

Almost everyone has said normal PJs they can wear all year, people who give xmas ones rarely give them on xmas eve when its about to be over lol.

Also who said 'sweets' theres no sweets in mine that I listed and the books arent xmas books in mine either (but those that do xmas ones have stated they are reused annually).

I also will say again as you somehow missed it several times that its not about WHEN its given but clothing, feeding and washing your kids are ALL YEAR round requirements so NOT in anyway 'extra', 'gifts' or 'consumerism'.

Its basic parental requirements we just happen to give them new and fresh ready for xmas morning, if you give them a new pair of PJs on a random tuseday 2 weeks before xmas, a new shower gel on the 20th and a new toothbrush on xmas morning it doesnt make you 'better' or more 'woke' to 'consumerism' or more 'eco friendly' it just means you didnt put it in a box on xmas eve... you still BOUGHT that stuff.

Well yes of course, I never said its a requirement, I'm obviously responding to the people saying it's a negative thing.

@TheKeatingFive MN seems to refuse to quote or respond for me when I ask it to.

We are talking about Xmas Eve boxes here. You are absolutely ridiculous here. We know what are necessities for our children and if they needed new pjs etc we would buy them for them! But I don’t need to do it as a Xmas Eve box that’s what we are saying !!!!!!! And half the things listed by those that do them are not what I think anyone would note down as a legal requirement ha ha !!!!

@Yoyo2021 bloody ridiculous isn't it !!

I do one with pyjamas, slipper socks, hot choc of some kind and a little cuddly toy. DD is 16 now but I still do it (the cuddly toy tends to be more jokey now but she still loves it).

Mostly these are things I’d get her for Xmas anyway so I find doing them on Xmas eve sort of spreads out the gift giving. Otherwise it’s 20 mins of gift giving on Xmas morning and it’s over with.

By giving some things on Xmas eve it spreads the fun of giving out a bit more.

No Christmas Eve boxes here. I think they're a load of nonsense.

But I have enjoyed the furious defence of them and the 'legal requirement' yelling though. Most entertaining.

@mam0918

My DD's have always had a 5 pack of knickers in their stockings and fluffy socks, plus toothbrush, shower gel ... I know I'm so generous

We do the same, their boxes arrive on 1st Dec, so they have the whole month to use/do the festive things in them. They usually contain a soft toy, advent calendar, Christmas themed book, Christmas socks and Christmas pj’s.

No one has said xmas PJs?

You might want to double check that..!

I was wondering this!

What i find annoying about these thread about Christmas traditions is the smugness at not doing them. Like everyone obviously has a choice and they can do as little or as much as they want to. Of course parents shouldn't feel pressured and I'm sad that parents do, I personally haven't done elf on a shelf couldn't think of anything worse but I'm not going to say how awful it is for others to do. Maybe people are trying to make the OP feel better about not doing the Christmas eve boxes I just think there is a way to say it. 🤔