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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:
Broodywuz · 13/12/2023 17:53

We don't do an actual box but do set out a few things on the kitchen table for them coming down Christmas eve morning, mainly things to keep them occupied on Christmas eve so I can get on with food prep. Gingerbread house to decorate, baking ingredients so we can bake cookies for santa, their stockings, santa plate. Night before Christmas book etc

Tinaforshort · 13/12/2023 18:12

We have always done new pyjamas on Christmas Eve - not Christmas ones - that are worn all year. For me, this is a tradition that my grandmother used to do with my DM when she was young - DM is now late 60’s. My grandmother didn’t have much money after my grandfather disappeared (presumed dead) and had 6 children. She used to buy them all new pyjamas for Christmas Eve that they needed anyway as their old ones were tatty/outgrown. Also they were all decent for pictures on Christmas morning. My DM then continued that with me and my brother, I have in turn continued it with my DC.

Fairylightfurore · 13/12/2023 18:53

No, they get enough stuff. We don't get new pyjamas, esp not Christmas themed that they won't wear the rest of the year. We do read Christmas stories as books last, and do do deccs and advent calendars nativity etc and definitely no elves
...... Mrs Grinch

Needmorelego · 13/12/2023 18:59

Why do people seem to think that a pair of pyjamas won't get worn after December 25th because they happen to have a Christmas pattern printed on them?
Surely they are worn until outgrown/falling apart/or when it's summer and you don't need such a thick pair?
They're pyjamas. I mean under Mumsnet Law© venturing outside in pyjamas where other people might see them is an absolute sin so who cares if you are tucked up in bed in February with jammies that have a reindeer pattern on them?

MrsDilligaf · 13/12/2023 19:40

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.

Same here. Advent Box with similar items. I reuse loads of stuff like the Christmas Plate and mug, Christmas books, Santa Hat, Days until Christmas Calendar.

Christmas eve is busy enough without something else to do!

auburnglow788 · 13/12/2023 19:41

No, it's just another thing on parents' very long Christmas to-do list. I prefer to keep it simple - Christmas Eve film, hot chocolate and everyone together with their favourite snacks.

StiffyByngsDogBartholomew · 13/12/2023 19:44

Never have. Dd, now 14, seems to have survived the ordeal unscathed. No elf either although I do have a rather ostentatious advent calendar that my aunty made for me in 1982 and is now used for DD, I fill it with little bits and bobs such as pony treats or a fancy pencil

StiffyByngsDogBartholomew · 13/12/2023 19:52

:)

Does nearly everyone do Christmas Eve boxes now?
housethatbuiltme · 13/12/2023 19:53

Its not a new thing I had it in the 80s, my mam had it in the 60s... it just wasn't in a 'box' (usually laid on the foot of the bed).

A book on Xmas eve has been tradition since WW2 (paper wasn't rationed) and new PJs on Xmas eve is a standard Xmas tradition.

Other stuff given is to be used straight away. People do different things as every family is unique but for example... a bubble bomb and toothbrush or a family Christmas DVD and reusable 'special' plate for Rudolphs carrot or hot chocolate and gingerbread house for supper aren't really 'gifts'. It the same stuff most people do on Xmas eve night anyway (family time and washing the kids). It doesn't 'take anything away' from Xmas day.

There also no requirement to do it if its not your families culture/tradition but its not this trendy new insane gift giving fest people who aren't failure with it seem to think it is

LarkspurLane · 13/12/2023 19:55

Needmorelego · 13/12/2023 18:59

Why do people seem to think that a pair of pyjamas won't get worn after December 25th because they happen to have a Christmas pattern printed on them?
Surely they are worn until outgrown/falling apart/or when it's summer and you don't need such a thick pair?
They're pyjamas. I mean under Mumsnet Law© venturing outside in pyjamas where other people might see them is an absolute sin so who cares if you are tucked up in bed in February with jammies that have a reindeer pattern on them?

Why bother getting a Christmas pair if you are going to wear them all year?
Why not just get a pair you like when you need them?

housethatbuiltme · 13/12/2023 19:58

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.

How on earth would you know no one does them?

We do them, I had them as a kid and my mam had them as a kid... this is however not public knowledge. It has literally NEVER once come up in conversation outside of mumsnet Christmas forum.

AyrshireTryer · 13/12/2023 20:04

No.

housethatbuiltme · 13/12/2023 20:04

thedukeofbuckinghamshire · 13/12/2023 16:57

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

Because why would people announce it?

I have never randomly told people IRL my Christmas traditions, it just has NEVER come up not even with IL or best friends.

If you want to flip it I have never heard anyone say in real life that they do Stockings on the bed from Santa or Pillow sacks or Christmas puddings or Want, Need, Wear, Read... we don't do it and no one IRL has told me they do so it must all be made up then right?

Anawi · 13/12/2023 20:08

PuttingDownRoots · 13/12/2023 15:06

Although people don't like to admit it... People have given new pyjamas on Christmas eve, put out snacks for Santa, hung stockings etc for years before Christmas Eve Boxes became A Thing. It just has a name now.

This! I was given new pjs every year on Christmas Eve as a child and I've always done the same with my children, the eldest is 13 now. We will always have new pjs, a Christmas film to watch and treats/snacks to eat. There's no box here but I suppose it's largely the same thing.

Needmorelego · 13/12/2023 20:10

@LarkspurLane me personally I have never bought actual Christmas pyjamas (ie the type with Christmas themed patterns on them). I actually can't buy pyjama sets for me because my top half of my body is a different size to my bottom so one half of a pair will never fit 😂🙁.
I actually quite like some of the sets I have seen and are a bit sad they don't fit me.
What I was meaning was people saying that Christmas PJ's are such a waste because they only get worn at Christmas. But really - is there actually anyone who doesn't just carry on wearing them - regardless of what pattern is on there?

FinalCeleryScheme · 13/12/2023 20:15

No.

My idea of a Christmas Eve box is a wine box.

Any elf that shows itself here will be Elf In the Bin.

Growlybear83 · 13/12/2023 20:18

I've never known anyone who has Christmas Eve boxes, elves on shelves, or who buy daft matching pyjamas!

housethatbuiltme · 13/12/2023 20:31

Needmorelego · 13/12/2023 20:10

@LarkspurLane me personally I have never bought actual Christmas pyjamas (ie the type with Christmas themed patterns on them). I actually can't buy pyjama sets for me because my top half of my body is a different size to my bottom so one half of a pair will never fit 😂🙁.
I actually quite like some of the sets I have seen and are a bit sad they don't fit me.
What I was meaning was people saying that Christmas PJ's are such a waste because they only get worn at Christmas. But really - is there actually anyone who doesn't just carry on wearing them - regardless of what pattern is on there?

I only own 2 pairs of PJ's, at home I wear leggings and a vest to sleep. Both pairs where bought for me when I was rushed into hospital suddenly.

One pair is from when my oldest was born prematurely on New Year during a snow storm, we where obviously kept in. My mam went to the closest supermarket and bought a thick pair of PJs for me to wear. They are red and white with a xmas pattern on. If ever I need warm 'house trousers' they are what I put on regardless of if its Xmas eve or mid April. They are nearly 16 years old now and still in use several times a year.

I don't buy Xmas PJs (this year my kids are getting Batman, Unicorn and Skulls) but I totally agree that even Xmas ones CAN be worn all year around if you want too, no one is going to know.

I'm far more baffled by Xmas jumpers (xmas themed ones not just nice winter jumpers) than Xmas PJ's that no one ever sees.

Covidwoes · 13/12/2023 20:56

No! They get enough on Xmas day! My DDs put out a cookie, milk and a carrot before they go to bed. That's it! They don't get anything new.

Snugglemonkey · 13/12/2023 20:59

We do a box on Dec 1stcand Christmas eve but it is really nothing fancy. The elves bring the box out on Dec 1st. It just has elves, a craft activity and the advent calendars in. The on christmas eve, they leave to help Santa pack. They leave a package for each of us with pj's, another craft activity to keep people busy, some popcorn and a christmas chocolate lolly.

Snugglemonkey · 13/12/2023 21:02

We also put in the plate my dc1 painted for santa when he was 2 and the night before christmas book we read every christmas eve.

maltichi · 13/12/2023 21:33

Never have done never will - my kids have more than enough crap.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 13/12/2023 23:55

@Needmorelego I bought my young baby a black skeleton babygro for her first Halloween as we were going to a party. But, like you said, these items can still be worn after the event so I still put her in it overnight. I did regret it slightly when we had to take her to hospital in it that Christmas though! I changed her to a new one as soon as I could!

Needmorelego · 14/12/2023 00:08

@sunflowerdaisyrose my daughter wore the pumpkin hat from her first Halloween outfit for the whole winter.
We still have it. She's 15 now - so obviously doesn't fit her anymore - but many of her dolls have worn it over the years 😂

Saz12 · 14/12/2023 01:21

DC have new pair of pj's on Christmas eve. Mostly because they outgrow old ones. I dont feel any consumerist guilt about it, and I doubt their friends know or care what they do or dont get. Other gifts are for Christmas day.