Talk to me about Christmas Eve boxes

[Tinseltotties]

As a kid I used to get new pjs, an early gift (usually a book or crafts to keep me occupied and give my parents a break I suspect), a hot chocolate and a vhs/dvd. This sounds fairly similar to modern day Christmas Eve boxes, which I don’t remember being a thing then.

am I right? Is it just a more formal way of doing it? what do you put in yours? And when do the dc open it?

I never had Christmas Eve boxes as a child and never did them for my children. Nobody has ever had anything on Christmas Eve. We just wait until Christmas Day.

How old are you op? They're a very modern thing imo. I tried it one year...my dc were incredibly underwhelmed so I didn't bother again

I’d only heard about Christmas Eve boxes on Mn

I’m late 40s and was always given a present or two on Christmas Eve.

I used to give my children a bath bomb on chr eve

Don’t start doing that, it just expands your list of things to do/buy!

My DC used to sometimes have PJs or a cuddly toy on Christmas Eve, but it was never a set ‘thing’ so I’m not tied to doing it from now until the ending of the world.

I’m early 30s and we got the same new pjs, a book, maybe hot chocolate or a selection box. I do similar for my son I don’t call it anything, it’s just something we do on Xmas eve after dinner. Likewise my partner and I gift each other something like pjs/ slippers/ hot water bottle (basically something cosy!) so it’s not just a kid thing in our house. Some years I’ve added in a little paper plane/ fidget toy etc or sparklers but it’s not actually in a box!

Our Christmas eve box has the same stuff every year. So plate for santa to put out, stocking to hang up, and christmas books to read (DC is book mad), some dvds.

The only thing we buy each year is the PJs as he grows out of them and a small treat. He is 7 though so don't know whether we will keep going once he's older.

Yes, I think it's the same thing and I know the whole "new PJs on Christmas Eve" has been a thing at least since I was a child.

DD is getting this year:

Paddington Pyjamas
The Jolly Christmas Postman book
A bath bomb
A Beanie Boo
A hot chocolate sachet

"Santa's key" will also be in the box, as it is every year, because we don't have a chimney.

Presents are for Christmas Day, otherwise it's not special. You don't get a 'night before your birthday' present do you?

But it was special. It’s one of my favourite Christmas memories, I used to get so excited for a bath and new pjs then to spend the night reading my new book.

Same here, one of my friends used to give her children a new pair of PJs Christmas Eve so her DC had nice PJs in the morning when they unwrapped their gifts but we have always said up, washed, dressed, breakfast and dog walked then gifts.

I’m in my late 30s.

I’d like to do the new pjs and a gift (book) with dc as a tradition anyway because I loved it. And if the Christmas Eve box is the same but with a Santa key and Christmas Eve plate popped in there, then it’s not really any extra work since we’d have a plate anyway too.

We never got gifts or goodies before Christmas Day, Advent Calendars weren’t a thing either. Always waited until the big day!

But, now with my small family (one child) we do books during December, no point saving those until the day, they won’t get looked at. Treats on days out etc… I remember my mum not opening anything nice until Christmas Day, then stuffing it all down in one week & going on a strict diet on 1st of January.

Now I prefer to enjoy the run up to Christmas in little ways. DH has started doing one gift on Christmas Eve, which is nice.

never had one never doing it/ the excitement of Xmas Eve is enough. Also quite frankly the dvd idea is redundant now- hot chocolate we can have that anyway- as for pjs that have Father Christmas on that are out of season 2 days later= it’s a no from me

Gosh to all the posters misreading, I did ask what you put in your Xmas Eve box, not if you think they’re stupid.

No where did I describe pjs with Father Christmas on that apparently become unwearable on dec 26th?
and I’m very obviously not going to do a dvd now, but thank you for alerting me to technological advancements since my own childhood.

Oh forgot to add, I usually get DH to distract her whilst I set it up in a room somewhere around 6/7pm, then use my phone to call up a sleigh bell or magic sound effect so she comes running to see it, then act like I've just entered the room and am shocked and surprised. 😂I'm pretty sure that DD 4 is onto us but she's happy to play along with our nonsense for a bit longer.

I started it a little while ago and am glad I did. My child is ND and gets especially wound up the day before Xmas. I put new cozy pj's, a relaxing bath soak, socks and a chapter book with some sweet nibbles and just create a cozy environment to keep things relaxed and it seems to work!

Oh and there is reindeer food and the santa key as we don't have a fireplace!

Our kids love them OP. I've been doing it since the eldest was small, so probably about 10 years. The story we used was that the elf leaves them as a thank you for when he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, the eldest at least knows that isn't true anymore but still enjoys playing along. So they come down the stairs on Christmas Eve to a box each by the fire place. The elf used to leave them a letter too but since they're older it's just the box. I really enjoy shopping for the CE box as I don't have to follow any rules or requests. So I get to just spoil and pamper them.

For us the box always contains new nightwear - PJs (themed on things they like), fleeced hoodie and slipper socks, a book and a chocolate Santa. Then I sprinkle in different things depending on what I think they'd like or need. This year they have puzzle books, a warmie, new mugs and a giant candy cane.

I do new pj's, popcorn or chocolates to watch a film with and some year hot chocolate if I see nice ones, there might be a bath bomb too if I remember, it's a nice evening tradition here, open box, put on new pajamas, settle down for a film and then bed.

Your family were trailblazers op. In your childhood box is precisely what I put in mine. Although dropped the DVD a couple of years ago. It's extra hassle and expense but I don't care. I love it and I think it adds to the excitement of Christmas. In fact Christmas Eve is probably my favourite part of Christmas! Why not celebrate it!

oh I love this!

@BowTiesPinkTail reindeer food is a great addition!

i like the idea of a treat to have whilst watching something Christmassy and maybe a Christmassy bubble bath or something too

I like that lots of peoples don’t seem set, so it can change each year. I do remember occasionally having a nice Christmas themed treat, or soap bar or something that were always really exciting extras, but not expected. The gift and pjs were the only constant, so I could do that with the box too.

Is everyone saying it’s a gift from Santa / the elves?

My mam used to put out new pj's for me on Christmas Eve.

We do new pj's, a new Christmas book, hot chocolate and some other treats like chocolate coins, some kind of craft or game to keep occupied, a cuddly and reindeer food. We also have the same Santa key and add a message to the same Christmas card every year. Always keep it inexpensive but my daughter has always loved it.

If something doesn't get used because we ran out of time on Christmas Eve or something then it will get put back in the box for next year.