Two Christmas questions

[wellyouasked]

Number 1: Xmas Eve boxes. I was going to start them this year and I saw some in Home Bargains today. They are enormous. I appreciate that those are the ones that they have and other shops may have smaller ones, but do you have one box for each DC or do they share the box? I have 2DC and I would struggle to fill it with Christmas Eve related things for both of them but definitely couldn't fill one each.

2: what are these decorations for? I got these but I thought they were what you put the treats for Santa/Rudolph in but when I checked out, there were penguin ones too- are these for treats for Santa/Rudolph or the DC?

1. I don’t do them. We have a selection of Christmas books/toys which come out on 1st December. On Christmas Eve we do PJs and a new book in a gift bag.
2. I think your supposed to put a photo in them.

We do a Christmas Eve box that is delivered by the Kindness Elves.

We re-use the same stuff as much as possible though. The Night Before Christmas Book, Christmas biscuits, Christmas flannel and duck for the bath, Tinti bath colour and new PJs.

When mine were little Christmas boxes weren't a thing. But you could definitely buy smaller gift boxes from card factory or something and fill with new pyjamas, a Christmas story book (I did this every year with mine), some nice snacks, posh hot chocolate mix, or whatever your kids would like.

I think the second thing should be filled with chocolate coins!

Christmas Eve boxes were not a thing ( thank god) when my kids were little. But if you want, just get a smaller one or cover a small box with wrapping paper.
If those ornaments are flat then I think a photo goes in them.

The pouches are for sweets/chocolate coins, judging from what I've seen on Etsy etc.

We don't do Christmas Eve boxes but Dec 1st boxes, with 2 DSs I just have a big one between them.
Christmas PJS/Socks/underwear (novelty boxers), hot chocolate mixes, Christmas books, popcorn/snacks for Christmas movies etc, (incase you were after ideas too, disregard if not, haha)

We used to do a Christmas Eve Hamper and re-used the boxes (HomeSense/TKMaxx used to do gorgeous ones )
We;d get them ready to go out for a walk/feed the reindeer and I'd just need to check the back door is locked then put them by the fireplace (they never twigged )

As they got older its a Dec 1st Box (or bag) which will get stored under a bed or on a watdrobe in a storage bag

No idea on question 2 !

I have one between my 2 DDs but they contain some things every year - stockings, and the like. They also contain some hot choc and sweet treats, a bath bomb and their Christmas PJs (which aren't 'Christmas' so they can be worn all year!) I also put in some bits for DH and myself (last year a mini bottle of champagne and a can of g&t!) so it's a family box.

I don't put toys or anything like that in as they get them the next day.

Mine have a Christmas Eve box each.
they are reasonably big, but I mainly recycle things to put in there.
A Christmas mug each (with hot chocolate)
New pjs (Not Christmas ones)
A Christmas book (we have a few)
Chocolate coins

Our Christmas boxes contain
Christmas pjs
a roblox gift card for DS / christmas TY beanie baby for dd
Chocolate coins or some sort of christmas chocolate
hot chocolate sachet or bomb for DS and a milkshake for dd
a lush bath bomb

I’ve already brought the Christmas pjs in the sale last year (sized up) so will have spent less this year than previous.

1 - It wasn’t commercialised way back when so we didn’t have a box at all just a couple of surprises at bath and bedtime that had magically appeared in a whoosh of glitter (not a known environmental concern then). All older now and it’s evolved into 1 small crate (think it previously contained bottles and we decorated it) with a little something inside for everyone.

2 - I first thought photos, chocolate coins a better suggestion. You could put in anything you wanted if it fits even baby carrots for Rudolph.

We've had 1 big box to share for tge past 13 years. All the old books, santa plate, key etc go in plus a new toothbrush, pj's, both bomb and hot chocolate and treats for a film.
First year I put in a cup for the hot chocolate and the santa plate etc. It has everything for us 3 to enjoy.
It's always looked forward to even at 14 and 16, we go out for a walk every Christmas eve morning and arrive home and magically the box is there 🙂

I hate Christmas Eve boxes with a passion! Kids will get a tonne of toys on Christmas Day. Why do they need more crap 12hrs before the main event. We have a load of Christmas books which come out with the decorations and I get the kids Christmas pyjamas to wear while we decorate and through the Xmas period (otherwise they can only really wear them a couple of times before it's not Xmas anymore).

I think if they are flat you put a photo in them and hang them them on your tree

Considering 99% of posts about Christmas Eve boxes state they contain sweets, bath bombs and PJs, perhaps the odd craft kit, but make no mention of toys, I'm amazed you've got the energy to passionately hate them!
I'd also be surprised if a set of PJs and a hot chocolate was enough to take the shine off the big day for any child.

Exactly, mine get the Pyjamas they would have got the next day anyway, and a new book to read quietly before bed.

We have been collecting the Guinea Pig books, where they photograph guinea pigs acting out classic stories, cute and fun.

For us it makes a nice quiet end to the day, so they will go to bed nicely.

most the Christmas eve boxes are a ridiculous size I have seen crates! just get a nice box or cover your own. most folk seem to put in pjs socks etc so that would take up a fair bit of room then add a dvd sweets etc hot chocolate cones are good too i think those are photo things but if there is room sweets would be fine otherwise why not send to a grandparent or aunt etc with a nice snap of the kids in

Our Christmas eve box is just a left over amazon box that I cover with the nastiest Christmas paper I can find from my stash.
Usually contains pjs, fluffy socks, hot choc+ cream @+and marshmallows, sweets, silly nano brick Christmas model kits ( we have so many of these now, I'm struggling to find new ones)

@Backagain23 it's not taking the shine off that's my issue, it's letting them appreciate the gifts they receive rather than looking for the next thing to open. And people spend more money than they have at Christmas and Christmas Eve boxes add to the competitive over spending along with pictures of things piled high under the tree.
Hot chocolate, mug, book, bath bomb, sweets and pyjamas can easily cost £30+ on top of everything else you'll spend.
People also get trapped into the traditions so this year with cost of living people have to keep it up for the kids when they might not be able to afford it.

Christmas Eve boxes - I don't think they were thing when I was a child. I have a 10 year old, and I have never done one for him. Don't feel pressured to. I work right up to Christmas, and so does dh. We just don't have the time to do everything, and it's money we don't have.

We have a box of stuff in the attic that doesn’t get taken down until Christmas Eve because it would be in the way. It contains things like a special plate we painted for Santa years ago, the Christmas stockings, the window candle, a book we used to read on Christmas Eve

It’s not a Christmas Eve box per se but there’s a lovely bit of nostalgia opening it. Although writing this I feel I need to update our traditions a bit for my teens

It could also easily cost less than £10. Lots of people use the same mug and books year after year, what does a sachet of hot chocolate and a bag of marshmallows cost, really? £1 book or craft kit from The Works or similar. Kids need PJ's anyway so wouldn't even really count those in the Christmas budget but can also be picked up cheaply.
The tradition itself isn't the problem. People getting themselves into bother by overspending is a problem all year round.

1. I don't do Christmas eve boxes, but assume you can do whatever you want. Be that 1 massive box to share, or 2 smaller ones.

1. Use them for whatever you want. If you want to use them for FC and Rudolph then do that. There's no rules!

Christmas Eve boxes weren't a think when DS was small. But if I did them now I think I would do the box for 1st Dec. I like to get use out of the pj's. And I don't think I want to do bath bomb, hot chocolate, sweets, movie all on the same day.
I might out some craft stuff in there. To make paper chains one day. Stuff to make Christmas cards for grandparents and best friend etc. Christmas book one night. Movie another night. Hot chocolate another night. Might help take the franticness out of the run up to Christmas?
Most importantly don't put yourself under extra pressure.

I share a wicker basket between the two dds. Some items are reused each year (there's a thick Night Before Christmas book that takes up about a third of the space). It works for us - something cuddly (pj's often, but sometimes a onesie or slippers of a dressing gown, depending what the dc need), some sweets, a nice drink and something for the bath (bath bomb or whipped soap). When the dc were little we'd have a DVD to watch (not really needed these days) and something like a sticker book to keep the dc busy while we prepped the christmas dinner veg in advance.

We do December 1st so that Christmas pajamas get more use. I’ve never wrapped or put in a box. I save that for actual Christmas gifts.

the Santa and reindeer are photo frames