What do you put in 1st December boxes vs Christmas Eve boxes?

[ChristmasIsComing2023]

What do you put in 1st December boxes vs Christmas Eve boxes??

The thing is @howdoesyourgardengrowinmay that's the price we pay for living in a capitalist society. People moan 'oh Christmas is so commercial...' well, yes of course it is, it reflects our society. Nevertheless, it's a shame if it bothers you.

And @Needmorelego - without Christmas (or an alternative mid winter festival) I don't think I'd survive winter, I just hate the darkness. I'd definitely need to hibernate for 4 months!

@UndertheCedartree I agree.

Somehow these things are fine:
Pantomime
Winter wonderland
Ballet
Father Christmas at Harrods
Lapland
Ski holiday
Feed reindeer
IPhone
I pad
Xbox

But some craft stuff, a book and reused mugs at start of December and pjs, hot chocolate and a bath bomb on Christmas eve is totally over the top

😁😉

😂

What I don't understand about the 1st December/Christmas Eve box moaners is that a traditional Christmas is a season, not a single day.

Stir Up Sunday is the week before Advent and the chance to stir and taste the Christmas pudding must have been a real treat. In lots of countries, presents are given for the Feast of St Nicolas or St Lucia. In other countries, people get presents on the feast of the Epiphany to mirror the presents given to Jesus.

We know that Christmas used to be 12 days (hence the carol). Of course, the Puritans didn't like this and by the Victorian period, families had very little time together but there is nothing non Christmassy about having a longer period of celebration outside 25th December itself.

Yes, that's very true.

My DC are half Dutch so Sinter Klaas brings them Dutch treats on 6th December 🎅

Then Father Christmas fills stockings on 25th 🦌

We also have Spanish family so the 3 kings drop in on 6th January 👑

By the way if you're interested in Christmas traditions and how Christmas has evolved I've been enjoying a podcast called Christmas Past

It's the dim witted, pig headedness of the moaning posts I get annoyed with

Haha as if your post isn't moany and judgy.. and rude.

In lots of countries, presents are given for the Feast of St Nicolas or St Lucia. In other countries, people get presents on the feast of the Epiphany to mirror the presents given to Jesus.

In this country Christmas is on 25 December!

@CallieQ no Christmas DAY is on December 25th. But there's more to Christmas than just one day.

I haven’t read the full thread, but I’m planning on doing a December 1st box of sorts this year for the first time.
I think I tried a Christmas Eve box once when my DD was around 3, but haven’t done it since as I felt it took away from the excitement of the actual day.

I’m planning on giving my DD and DS a box on 1st December that will include:

Christmas pjs
Christmas jumpers
Advent calendars
Christmas books (from previous years)
New tree ornament each
Some Christmas crafts for throughout the month
Box of Christmas cards (for school)
Perhaps a Santa letter kit, if we haven't done them already over the next week or so

These are things I buy every year anyway so figured I may as well gift them in one box. On Christmas Eve I'll only be giving them a bath bomb each, probably from Lush. I may give them new pjs each but these will be generic ones if I do, or they can just wear the Christmas ones again.

We do a 1st December Box but no Christmas Eve Box.
For us Christmas is a season not just one single day.

On the 1st December we have a box with:
PJs
Christmas Themed Clothes
Christmas Books and Movies
A decoration for the tree
A 'Believe' Bell
Letter from Father Christmas
Reusable Advent Calendar
Key for Santa, Bottle for Milk, Plate, Reindeer food - for Christmas eve
Christmas Chocolates & hot chocolate spoons
Christmas Crafts

And we spend the day putting up the tree, decorations, watching Christmas films and then we have a Take Away (only one of the year lol)

Throughout December we have planned activities, days out and trips to see / with family - so visit to Santa, Christmas light display, festive train ride etc

My son gets a small gift each day or a day out, from 1st to the 25th. We don't do massive gifts or lots of gifts all on one day. He has a sensory processing disorder and everything all on one day would be too much and end in a huge sensory overload (which would have an after effect for weeks in his behaviour).

I find the 15th December box very tricky....what do you put in that?

🤦🏻‍♀️

Hell will freeze over before I do a 1st December box.

@Atswimtwogirls the "15th December Box" was a joke I made because someone said that's when they get their Christmas stuff (decorations etc) out and I said "so you have a 15th December box then" (rather than a December 1st box).
To me (and many others it seems) this whole thing is it's just a box....with the stuff you use at Christmas. Whether it comes out on December 1st or 15th (or 9th...or 23rd...or 17th...or whenever)

@LovelyDaaling do you celebrate Christmas? If yes you must have things that get reused every year (decorations etc).

Christmas day is 25th December. Boxing day Is 26th. Many people follow the 12 days of Christmas until 6th January. Many also include the Advent period from 1st December as part of their celebrations. So no, Christmas is definitely not just on 25th December!

Thanks @UndertheCedartree. I'd not heard of the Christmas Past podcast. I'll give it a go!

We do Christmas Eve boxes. They are waiting for the children when they get up that morning, supposedly left by the elf as a thank you for them taking such good care of him. Our eldest (who is 11 now) obviously knows this isn’t the case anymore but we’ve been doing the boxes since she was 3 so they won’t be going anywhere regardless of how old the kids get. The boxes only contain new items and the theme is generally clothes/bath/snacks. The soft toy is the exception. We don’t do Santa plates, reindeer food or keys. I think they are more magical for younger kids.

This year our 11 year old will have:

Harry Potter glow in the dark pyjamas
Hedwig oversized hoodie
Hedwig slipper socks
Book (A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness)
Guide or annual (Stranger Things)
Squishmallow (small)
Bathbomb
Various snacks and chocolate

Our 8 year old loves Harry Potter just as much so the box will be mostly the same but obviously with different books, so…

Harry Potter glow in the dark pyjamas
Hedwig oversized hoodie
Hedwig slipper socks
Book (A Puppy’s First Christmas by Holly Webb)
Guide or annual (Squishmallows)
Squishmallow (small)
Bathbomb
Various snacks and chocolate

These boxes will result in the kids spending large parts of the day reading, watching TV in their new hoodies and cozy socks and snacking on the sweets. It allows my husband and I time to get some other last minute bits done before we all sit down for lunch.

In previous years I’ve made the actual boxes myself but after a tough Christmas last year I’ve decided it’s time for a change and we’ve just purchased two crates that will be used for years to come.

I get completely why some people wouldn’t want to do any of this but I think it’s a lovely part of our Christmas. I generally enjoy the 24th more than the 25th anyway. It’s all of the festive cheer without all of the cooking.

We don't do a box on the 1st, but it's when our decorations go up.

Oh it was all those things on purpose to be honest, I sort of wanted to see if those posters ever actually read a word anyone else said.
😁

DC 7

Christmas pjs
Sweets
Hot chocolate mix
Pokémon cards/football cards
Bath bomb

I don't do Christmas 1st boxes though, he'll be getting a Lego advent calender

*This year our 11 year old will have:

Harry Potter glow in the dark pyjamas
Hedwig oversized hoodie
Hedwig slipper socks
Book (A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness)
Guide or annual (Stranger Things)
Squishmallow (small)
Bathbomb
Various snacks and chocolate

Our 8 year old loves Harry Potter just as much so the box will be mostly the same but obviously with different books, so…

Harry Potter glow in the dark pyjamas
Hedwig oversized hoodie
Hedwig slipper socks
Book (A Puppy’s First Christmas by Holly Webb)
Guide or annual (Squishmallows)
Squishmallow (small)
Bathbomb
Various snacks and chocolate*

Unbelievable! What do you have left for Xmas day!

Spoilt kids

@CallieQ well if @CometCupidDonnerBlitzen 's family didn't celebrate Christmas it would be highly likely that her children would need new winter night clothes - cos children grow. The other stuff on the list is mostly normal everyday stuff that children get - books, snacks, bath things. The only "gift" in that lot is the cuddly toy (Squishmallows).
I assume you buy your children replacement night clothes when needed, books, snacks as a treat and nice bath things throughout the year - so why is this such an issue if these items are given on the 24th December?

Your Christmas Eve boxes look like what we would give for Christmas Day.

How does it work when Dec 1st falls on a routine school/ work day? Do you do advent calendar at breakfast then the other stuff after work?