December 1st box

[notforonesecond]

Does anyone else do this? What’s in yours?

I know some people will think it’s overkill but it’s the one of the traditions I’ve started for my own kids and I love it so much.

Similar to a Christmas Eve box I reckon - Christmas PJs, Christmas jumper, new Christmas themed book, some themed colouring. I’ve got them a mug each this year. And I chuck the advent calendars in too, obviously.

It just makes sense to me to do it on December 1st so they get proper use of the stuff in the run up to Christmas.

Once they stop growing I’m sure I won’t need to do new PJs etc every year but I bloody love getting to choose them for the moment.

Roll on Friday!!

Not in a million years would DT’s have ever agreed to wear a Christmas jumper or PJ’s

I’ve never done Xmas boxes for my children but this year I’ve made a box for my niece and nephew but only because I got some bargains in the January sales, books with their name in, window stickers with their names on and that sort of tat! My children are very jealous but I couldn’t find anything with their names on 😬

Contents, apart from advent calendars and clothes changes each year depending on what they need and what I’ve picked up in the sale. Sometimes they need new dressing gowns, sometimes hats and gloves, sometimes thick socks. I have 3 DDs between 2 and 7.

This year is:
Advent calendars, hot chocolate bombs, Christmas sticker books, clothes (mostly secondhand or passed down. Usually a couple of tops/jumper, a dress and some leggings.), a primark ‘oodie’ and new nightie each.

The cat will get a toy and an advent calendar too 😂

Yes we do this. Although it's a "Christmas tree" box and they get it on the day we put the tree up, so around the 1st.
I've never understood the point of Christmas eve boxes... With all Christmas themed stuff in it that they can use for a day or two and also getting presents the next day.

We will be putting out the advent calenders, new pyjamas and snacks for the traditional xmas movie on 1st dec and the xmas mugs will be out for the hot chocolate etc

We do a December first and a Christmas Eve box 😂 for Friday we’ll have new pjs, sticker book, baking and crafting things, same mug they have each year which is only brought out for December, small chocolate santa and a new Christmas story book. On Christmas Eve they get cookie cutters which we use to make the cookies for santa, a super old copy of the night before Christmas that only comes out on Christmas eve and a new teddy to take to bed. The magical years are so short I think it’s lovely to make the most of them!

I'd not thought to do this but now I'm tempted - I've ordered my 2 year old some Christmas pjs and reins

Oops posted too soon!

And reindeer slippers from George and picked up a night before Christmas board book in the charity shop. Is that enough for a box?!

I don’t do this but think it makes more sense than a Christmas Eve box.

I’ve done this for my GC because as you say, what use is it on Xmas eve?

There’s Xmas socks, duvet cover, Xmas pyjamas and jumpers and of course an advent calendar.

I don't do a box but on Friday while they're at school I will put the Christmas duvets on, I've already washed last year's Christmas pyjamas, and they'll each get a new Christmas book to read throughout December. So not a box but the same idea.
We won't put our tree up straight away because we don't have much space and I get sick of tripping over it

I do both.

I’ve put in the advent calendar, books, Christmas pyjamas, Christmas duvet cover (will re use next year), a few Christmas activity books, some craft sets like paint your own baubles and sew Christmas puppets, stickers, bath bombs, magic snow, a gingerbread house to decorate and a baking set.

A lot of it was cheap (the craft things) and I know people don’t agree with it as they think it’s wasteful but I would probably buy these things wether or not it’s in a box so it’s just a nice way to present it and exciting for the children.

The Christmas Eve boxes are a bit more special this year and most the items are from small businesses. They have matching pyjamas, believe bells, a nice list certificate, reindeer food, reindeer dust, bath bomb, Santa plate and Santa glass bottle for milk (reused) and a really nice version of the night before Christmas book which we use each year.

I’ve never understood the Christmas Eve box hype, but I actually quite like your idea. My son’s a bit old now ( sob! ) but if you have a lovely naughty Elf, they could sneak in there too!

Sounds lovely op.

Our tradition is to have breakfast together on the 1st - rare for us on a school day now because we all leave at different times. We wear Christmas jumpers and hats over our pjs, have mince pies after breakfast and everyone opens their advent calendar, and dh will cut up the bit of chocolate in his and give everyone a bit.

When they were small the box of crafty bits and pieces and the box of Christmas books were first out of the attic, easily accessible so that even if the decorations had to wait a while, there was a little bit of Christmas fun in the meantime. Now that they’re strapping teens looking forward to getting the decorations brought down without having to do any of the heaving and hauling myself.

Similar here,

Cup, xmas clothing (last years, I bought big), stickers and bits for making cards, books and toys/decorations we already own and paperchain strips.

He's going to his dad this weekend so will have it waiting when he comes home Sunday. Maybe with the tree up ready to decorate if I'm feeling it (space is limited so not normally so early, but I want us to wrap presents together to go underneath and doing it all in one go might be a bit much!)

Oh that sounds so lovely. I love the idea of you all sitting round in your Christmas jumpers!

I bought a bag/sack which I’m going to use instead of a box as it seemed easier (and cheaper) to fit everything in. It has matching Bluey Christmas pjs (which I ended up getting for free through an Etsy discount and a gift card I won), a funny faces Christmas sticker book, a letter to Santa kit which ds can draw on, a book of 16 colour your own Christmas cards which ds will do so that we can give them to everyone as this years card from us, a few tops and a jumper for ds in Christmas designs, Christmas cups for me and dp, indoor snowballs, advent calendars for us all, a Christmas bell with ds name on it that we got for his first Christmas and all of the Christmas books. I still need to get a cookies to Santa kit then I think I’m done 😋

Fluffy Christmas socks and funky Christmas T shirts. A make your own Snowman kit and advent calendars

I actually have finally given in and bought an elf this year. Maybe I’ll hide him a bit better than I was planning on and put a clue in the box or something to tie it in.

Our Elf used to bring the advent calendars with a letter from Father Christmas. DS is 11 now, I was hoping to give up the elf now as I’ve totally run out of ideas, but he asked the other day if he’d be coming back! I said maybe just for a short while 😂 You may regret it!

I used to do a Christmas Eve Hamper for the DC when they were little , it would go in front of the fireplace as DH was getting them ready to go out and I "just need to make sure the back door is locked"
Winter flannel pyjamas ( Primark had lovely ones usually tartan)
Bath bomb
Hot chocolate sachet
Small pack biscuits
An annual
Advent calendar

It was to get them ready , bath and pyjamas , a read , a drink a biscuit .

When they got older they didn't need to be wound down and their pyjamas got more £ . Again winter ones not Christmas .

I buy a years worth of socks and underwear for DS
Lounge bottoms and TShirts (Primark ones the Batman/Marvel type)
Some toiletries
(Robe every 2-3 years)

DD has nail care , skin care , showergel
Pyjamas that;ll last her all winter and into next autumn , probably a couple of years at least .

Advent calendar and chocolate coins .

Their presents are clothes or money (their choice)
DS clothes aren;t a present so Dec 1st is as good as any (and I can recycle his old stuff)
DD can use all her presents in the month ahead to pamper herself .

None of it tat
Hasn't turned them into ungrateful greedy turds (Edited as inappropriate word on the Christmas Thread . This isn't AIBU )

When I first saw the thread title I rolled my eyes and thought "seriously?", but actually it makes more sense than a Christmas Eve box, as you're including the advent calendars, and any themed clothing will get some wear before Christmas is over. If you're doing Elf then I'd definitely tie that in too somehow.

We do it every year

Advent calendar
A couple of pairs of christmas pjs, socks etc
Bedding
Activity book
Mug/tumbler
Chocolates
Christmas bunting for their bedrooms

I do this instead of the Christmas Eve box. It's things that I would probably buy through December anyway but it makes it special. Ours arrive with the Elf.

I usually include Christmas Bedding (or a new blanket/cushion), a soft toy, the advent calendars, mugs and tableware, chocolates, Christmas pj's, a new Christmas book and some festive themed toiletries.

I do this too! Every year the (bastard) Elf turns up with a gift bag for each child on 1 Dec.

This years includes:
Advent calendar
Christmas books
Christmas PJs
Snowflake shaped ginger bread cookies
Christmas themed rubber duckies
Solo powered dancing figures (Rudolph / snowman/ etc)