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Original poster

Does nearly everyone do Christmas Eve boxes now?

134 replies

Inyournewdress · 13/12/2023 15:04

Just wondering about this, because dd is two and will be three in spring so she is becoming more aware about Christmas. She doesn’t know about Christmas Eve boxes yet.

I feel that really she’ll have enough and it could be too much, too overwhelming or even lessen the impact of the presents on Christmas Day morning. But I also would be happy to put one together so I am thinking, is it inevitable that she’ll end up having one anyway once she’s at school because everyone else does? Or is it still a minority thing?

OP posts:
15PiecesOfFlair · 13/12/2023 16:49

Having said that, we do choose a new decoration for the tree every December if we get a chance, and they get bath bombs and socks in their stockings! Bath bombs to encourage baths and bed actually makes sense, so might nick that one...

GMsAWinner · 13/12/2023 16:49

We've never done Christmas boxes as neither of us knew they were a thing and we know absolutely no one else that does them. If they're not your thing and there's something you want your DC to have in advance, ie xmas pjs, you can just have the fun of giving them on the 23rd or 24th.

My parents never did xmas stockings, but DH started them for us as a couple and that's something we've kept up with.

OkyDoke · 13/12/2023 16:50

Our elf brings a box on 1st December, advent calenders, PJs, maybe a christmas jumper if needed, a book maybe a bath bomb. They love it and are bits they would have got anyway.

Hesperatum · 13/12/2023 16:51

No.

HAF1119 · 13/12/2023 16:51

We don't do a box...

We do get out the matching Xmas pjs (got me and OH 1 pair, and the little one 4 pairs going up every other size matching lol)

We do hang the stockings

We do put out stuff for Santa and the reindeer

Annasgirl · 13/12/2023 16:52

I‘m just wondering if any people on this thread also vote for the Green Party and think of themselves as environmentalists, probably not. But sooner or later we are going to have to deal
with over consumption in this world, and it might be easiest to start with Christmas Eve boxes and Christmas pyjamas and Elf on the Shelf. Your future environmentally aware child might thank you.

TeacherPlease · 13/12/2023 16:56

Oblomov23 · 13/12/2023 15:27

No. Never have. Don't like them. Don't see the point.

I don’t understand posts like this. The point is quite clear, it’s for a Christmas Eve activity and for new pyjamas to wear on Christmas Day. It often includes the stuff used every year (plate for Santa, reindeer food etc etc).

I don’t even have children and the concept seems quite straightforward to me. I still buy myself new pyjamas to wear on Christmas Eve night, even though the days of anyone taking photos of me before I’m dressed on Christmas Day are long gone 😂

thedukeofbuckinghamshire · 13/12/2023 16:57

I have never heard of anyone outside of mumsnet doing it.

mantyzer · 13/12/2023 16:57

No box. I think it takes away from Christmas Day. Plus on Christmas Eve we go to a carol service, and then I am busy prepping for the next day.

Shodan · 13/12/2023 16:58

My boys are 27 and 16.

I've never done Christmas Eve boxes, Elf on the Shelf, Christmas Eve pyjamas or any other kind of Christmas Eve gift. Last year I bought Christmas themed bed linen- they were underwhelmed.

But- I always read The Night Before Christmas to them when they were little, and hung stockings on their door handle. Mince pie and a glass of milk for Santa was hit and miss.

Now they're older, DS1 likes to go to the midnight service at church, so I do that with him, and we watch all the Die Hards throughout the season 😂A few years ago we started making and decorating gingerbread houses or biscuits, and we go to a couple of garden centres each year to hunt for this year's decoration.

Make your own traditions and don't get bogged down by the thought of what 'other people' do.

15PiecesOfFlair · 13/12/2023 16:58

AndThatWasNY · 13/12/2023 15:36

Ugh sorry for quoting the OP. I'm annoyed at my own MN faux pas

You'll be getting coal in your stocking, y'know...

ginforall · 13/12/2023 17:01

No, instead we all get new pyjamas (though not Christmas ones, just normal so we can wear them throughout the year). We go out and sprinkle the reindeer food and then when we get in wrapped pjs have magically arrived under the tree.

I buy some nice hot chocolate/ Christmassy treats in the run up to Christmas and we have them whilst watching Christmas films in the lead up.

gotomomo · 13/12/2023 17:04

Always did pjs but no box. Don't think they had invented them plus who gives chocolate etc at night? Mine get their pjs after midnight mass

Needmorelego · 13/12/2023 17:05

@Annasgirl it's comments like yours I don't understand.
Nightwear, books, toiletries for the bath, some food to eat, art/craft items, a doll (Elf on the Shelf), a mug, a plate.....
If a family doesn't celebrate Christmas (or any other festivals) these are things that would be bought, used and re used over many years of their lives. They are normal "life" things. But apparently if they have a picture of Santa printed on them or connected in some way to Christmas they are evil and destroying the planet.
Odd.

TrinityTinselBalls · 13/12/2023 17:06

No , I don't.
My youngest is 19 though and I don't recall Christmas Eve boxes for him or his 3 older siblings

I do recall, though, when I was a child that we were allowed one present to open, of our choice, around Tea Time on Christmas Eve.

As I got older and would sometimes go to Midnight Mass or to the Pub etc we would all open a gift after Midnight.

Elves on the Shelves did not factor at all.

ChateauDuMont · 13/12/2023 17:22

No.

whiteswan87 · 13/12/2023 17:22

I don't do my children Christmas Eve boxes because they get more than enough presents on Christmas day. Also, I don't know why but I really cringe at the idea of Christmas eve boxes. Just more unnecessary faff and "making memories" shite.

23treefrogs · 13/12/2023 17:23

No Christmas Eve box here. We do the elf but he just moves every few days. Nothing extravagant.

Gave Christmas pajamas at some point early in the month. Forgot to book a Father Christmas visit. It hasn't been missed.

Don't do something just because everyone else does or doesn't. Just do the bits you want to.

There's a lot of hate for the elf on here. We do it because my child loves it and it's really not as much effort as people make out. Unless you make it so.

mondaytosunday · 13/12/2023 17:23

No - and Christmas jammies or not, hanging a stocking and a treat for Santa has nothing to do with a Christmas Box @PuttingDownRoots.
Just don't do it. And refrain from the Elf thing too - only one person I know did it and regretted it after a couple years.

SallyWD · 13/12/2023 17:25

No. Never have, never will

sophpicksp · 13/12/2023 17:27

Inyournewdress · 13/12/2023 15:04

Just wondering about this, because dd is two and will be three in spring so she is becoming more aware about Christmas. She doesn’t know about Christmas Eve boxes yet.

I feel that really she’ll have enough and it could be too much, too overwhelming or even lessen the impact of the presents on Christmas Day morning. But I also would be happy to put one together so I am thinking, is it inevitable that she’ll end up having one anyway once she’s at school because everyone else does? Or is it still a minority thing?

My children are 3 & 5 so don't really know about all the 'traditions yet'. Christmas is getting sooo expensive because of all these new traditions that come along. Like on the 1st December, I saw people giving their kids presents,chocolates,clothes etc,mine just got 1 advent calendar each?? We've always had new pjs Xmas eve brought by my grandad I don't get them now but my children do. And we will have a hot chocolate and watch a film Xmas eve. (Until of course they come home one year and ask why their friends got a Christmas Eve box and they didn't and mum guilt will kick in... and I'll do them every year 😅).

3amShopper · 13/12/2023 17:27

I don't know anyone who does a Christmas eve box, but that probably because I've never actually talked about it in real life.

We've always had new PJ's on Christmas eve that you wear till you grow out of. My Grandma did it for all the children, I do if for mine now. They were always matching pyjamas. I'm going back to the late eighties, early nineties, where you were dressed the same as your siblings/cousins, that's not a new thing. I have matching pyjamas with DS because it's cute, and I want new PJ's. I'd give my right arm to be buying him matching with his little brother and sister but they both died around Christmas time, so I buy them for me and him.

We also have an elf, it doesn't do much. Brings the odd thing throughout December, moves around a bit.

Our traditions also revolve around church services. Those are my favourites.

We're so fortunate to have our DS, he is a joy and he'll only be little for a short time, so I'll do what I can to bring a little bit of Christmas magic for him. I don't mind doing it and he loves it. It's a hard time of year for me with anniversaries so i relish the whimsy.

Parker231 · 13/12/2023 17:29

DC’s were obviously deprived - no elf on the shelf, no Christmas Eve box, no Christmas pj’s for present opening, no hot chocolate or bath bombs! Didn’t buy Christmas jumpers either (DC’s hated them!).

47th · 13/12/2023 17:29

Nah

Mimilamore · 13/12/2023 17:38

FFS no!