Page 18 | What do you put in 1st December boxes vs Christmas Eve boxes?

Whataretheodds · 22/11/2023 12:35

On or around the 1st December we go to an Advent Carol service and put money in the collection box for charity. I write and post Christmas cards.

A week or two later we get out the Christmas decorations, Christmas books, and think about putting the tree up. We do that and decorate the tree.
Then we'll go to another Carol service.

22nd or so we go see family, leave a carrot and mince pie for rupolph and Santa, wake up, open stocking, exchange gifts eat turkey.

That's it.

JuliaJoJelly · 22/11/2023 14:55

Rather than a 1 Dec box, I do a big fill yourself advent calendar, which will probably fill people here with horror as it includes things like Christmas PJs, Socks, Christmas sylvanian families, crafts, maileg mice etc.

I don't see the point of waiting to christmas day to give them all the christmas themed toys etc to play with and think it lets them encourage the christmas period.

I also do a christmas eve box with our traditions - book, santa plate, key, bell and I add hot choc, a little craft, some sweets and socks etc.

My daughter is very spoiled (with attention, love, gifts) I will fully admit but she is the most well behaved, polite, kind child. So getting lots of things/attention does not equal 'brat' - I would more equate that to poor parenting than getting a new pair of PJs!

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:02

CallieQ · 22/11/2023 01:03

Because they are presents that are supposed to be given on Christmas Day not Xmas eve! I used to give my kids new pjs books etc in their stockings on Xmas morning... isn't that the point??

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The point of giving pyjamas on Christmas Eve is so they have nice new pyjamas for the morning when they are opening their stocking.

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:06

Sconehenge · 22/11/2023 03:02

I really enjoyed this thread and the hilarious posts from both sides of the fence.

I have adhd so the thought of having to organise extra things on certain dates is making me break out in hives but I love the idea of using the box/boxes to easily organise items to be reused each Christmas. Simplifying storage rather than it being gifty.

I also love the idea of giving crafty bits for card making on the 1st December (imagining more of a handover rather than being in a box) and then I want to put those cards in the Xmas eve memory box which a PP suggested which is just the sweetest idea, they’ll go alongside the album of photos of christmases past which is truly lovely ♥️

Hot choccies and festive popcorn will arrive as and when I remember to buy them at some point in December. As someone who got an orange in my stocking growing up, I’d think even things like “hair clips” are excellent stocking fillers and genuine presents so wouldn’t want to give these on 1st December!

Don’t at all understand the concept of festive cutlery but don’t have kids yet so maybe this will make more sense once I do!

For this December we are TTC so I’m hoping that the thing in my Xmas eve box is a sperm fertilising an egg 😂

I have autism and I find things being organised (like C.E box, Stocking etc) really helps me and spreading it out stops me getting overwhelmed. The Christmas memory box sounds great.

Parker231 · 22/11/2023 15:08

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:02

The point of giving pyjamas on Christmas Eve is so they have nice new pyjamas for the morning when they are opening their stocking.

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Why would someone need nice pj’s for opening their presents? I just buy throughout the year when the current ones are too small. Some years they don’t need any new ones.

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:12

CometCupidDonnerBlitzen · 22/11/2023 07:10

@CallieQ Oh dear best not ask me what I've bought them for Christmas day then! We do the elf too, and expensive advent calendars. Arghhh ... the horror! 😂

@MummytoTristan I agree wholeheartedly with you. We work hard all year long to provide for them. Our eldest has a serious medical condition. She is such a lovely kid and has honestly been dealt a tough hand in life. We've had a really hard year dealing with it all and the complete lack of help that exists on the NHS for her. Her younger sister, only 8 is an absolute rock. She knows just when her big sister needs a hug or someone to talk to. She's wise beyond her years. So quite frankly if I want to give them some fuzzy socks and a book each on Christmas Eve, I will.

We don't do social media, and the kids know not to talk too much about what they get (basic good manners). I'm not sure why people feel the need to get their knickers in a twist about it all but it's the same here every year on the Christmas board. Hopefully the OP was able to get the answer they needed around all of the faux outrage.

I completely agree with you. If I want to make a fuss of my DC, I will. If I want to have our own traditions that might not match everyone else's I will. My DC have been through so much, I'll 'spoil' them if I want to. And just like me with my own mum, they appreciate everything I do to make Christmas magical and in turn I'm sure they'll do it for their children too.

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:17

CallieQ · 22/11/2023 11:00

Can you explain exactly why some people giving gifts on the 24th would make a child spoilt compared to giving only gifts on the 25th.

No

Exactly, you can't because it makes no sense.

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:28

Parker231 · 22/11/2023 15:08

Why would someone need nice pj’s for opening their presents? I just buy throughout the year when the current ones are too small. Some years they don’t need any new ones.

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It's just nice. It makes it special. And this was my point - you just buy them whenever. What's wrong with me buying my DC some pyjamas and presenting them in a nice box?

Fairnair · 22/11/2023 15:37

I don’t have children (unfortunately), but if I did, I would buy a choc advent calendar/re-useable one, new pyjamas on Christmas Eve (not Christmas ones), but just cosy wintery ones, stocking & gifts on Christmas Day. I would have tried not to get involved with “Elf on the Shelf” if I could get away with it, if not would have just bought a cuddly toy Elf who delivered the Advent Calendar, & then just became part of the decorations.

Parker231 · 22/11/2023 15:51

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 15:28

It's just nice. It makes it special. And this was my point - you just buy them whenever. What's wrong with me buying my DC some pyjamas and presenting them in a nice box?

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No problem with buying nice pj’s - I love them and have way too many. Query was the buying them specifically for Christmas Day When DT’s were younger I tended to do their clothes buying in March and September to make sure they had clothes for the coming seasons which fitted specially as they went to a non uniform school so needed a supply of jeans, T-shirts and hoodies ready for the school term.

UndertheCedartree · 22/11/2023 16:53

Parker231 · 22/11/2023 15:51

No problem with buying nice pj’s - I love them and have way too many. Query was the buying them specifically for Christmas Day When DT’s were younger I tended to do their clothes buying in March and September to make sure they had clothes for the coming seasons which fitted specially as they went to a non uniform school so needed a supply of jeans, T-shirts and hoodies ready for the school term.

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I can't really afford to do it in one go. I tend to spread it out.

But yes, it's nice to have some brand new pyjamas on when you"re sitting downstairs in them opening stockings.

StrawberryWater · 22/11/2023 17:31

We do a big stocking on Christmas eve.

Ds 9 will get this year:

A book
An annual (usually Minecraft or Roblox)
A magazine subscription
PJs
Sweets
Smellies
Baking stuff (usually just something simple he can make for Christmas eve tea like a Betty Crocker cake mix and some tools for him to use in the kitchen as he likes cooking)
A cuddly toy
Colouring stuff or an activity
A small Lego set

Ds really only has us buying for him so we tend to push the boat out a little bit.

jesterdourt · 02/12/2023 12:45

@StrawberryWater what do you put in the stocking for Christmas day?

HairHeGoesHairHeGoesAgain · 02/12/2023 19:53

Parker231 · 22/11/2023 15:08

Why would someone need nice pj’s for opening their presents? I just buy throughout the year when the current ones are too small. Some years they don’t need any new ones.

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When I was little (I'm 37) it was so you didn't look scruffy on the Christmas photos 😂 Obviously this was long before social media.

We've always had new PJ's on Christmas eve and I will continue to have new PJ's for Christmas for me and my DC as long as I'm able.