Christmas Eve Boxes Inspiration

[XStitcher87]

What do you all put in your Christmas Eve boxes? I have a 1 and 3 yo. I usually do some PJs, a Christmas themed book, a cuddly toy and something edible. I’d love some ideas for older kids as we do them with our cousins or if I’m missing any tricks with my little ones.

Also I realise Christmas Eve boxes are a fairly new phenomenon, so if you don’t agree with them that’s fine but let’s keep this an inspiration thread!

Its so funny to me the trend on mumsnet that the privileged over consumers tell so proudly on themselves while attempting to virtue signal by thinking everyone else also constantly buys and chucks things out instantly and is a wasteful as them.

I mean why would someone throw pajamas, bubble bath or a book out just 2 hours after receiving them?

These are thing that are kept and used, most people don't have money to throw things out within hours. Christmas stuff in our house lasts all year (and longer) or until it completely used up or outgrown, were not rich enough to just trash perfectly good things to buy more unnecessarily.

well I have never been called AI before lol.

What a way to try and justify being wrong to try and accuse others of not being real. The state of the world right now.

You can try cramming the word 'modern' in all you want, nothing I said is wrong and is easily verifiable if you just bothered looking. The modern tradition is no different than the classic tradition its just added the word box. We got the exact same stuff in the 90s and my mam got that stuff in the 60s... not new (and for the record we don't even use a 'box' lol).

People need to learn that 'I didn't grow up with that tradition' doesn't mean its 'modern' or 'silly' or 'consumerist' it just means you have a limited life experience.

Same as PP I do a December 1st box. Contains Christmas PJs and new (to them) Christmas outfits (so jumper, a new dress e.g.). The Christmas teddies that have accumulated over the years, the stockings, santa plate and any new (or old) crafts & colouring in.

DDs have a book treasure hunt as part of their advent calendar which always ends with the night before Christmas on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas eve itself, they get a nice list certificate, along with reindeer food, Santa's magic key (we don't have a chimney so leave a magic key on the doorstep for him) and usually some cupcakes to eat during the film we watch in the afternoon.

We go to the local garden centre to choose a new bauble each on tree up day. But I love the idea of putting in a bauble from the year in the box.

Eldest DD is 7 so I am milking the Christmas magic for as long as possible, as well as hopefully creating some traditions she'll look forward to when she's older.

For us it's just things to do or we need on xmas eve, keeps them busy so I can get on with food prep. The santa plate for putting sants snacks on, their stockings, twas the night before christmas book etc

I'm doing a 1 Dec gift bag for 2yr old and 6 yr old. Used to do advent calendars but streamlining it. Everything is from charity shops - i have bought:

Christmassy picture books
Storycubes
Poetry book
Festive candle

I will look out for bath things. And I think a craft is also a nice thing / gingerbread kit.

There are some lovely Christmas books that work for older kids/teens:

Carol Ann Duffy's Christmas poems- this are available as small individual works or collected. They have lovely illustrations too.

Nice edition of A Christmas Carol

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

Tolkein's Letters from Father Christmas (these are the letters Tolkein wrote for his own children- they are wonderful)

One Christmas Wish- Katherine Rundell

Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm- Stella Gibbons

I try and avoid too many Xmas themed items in the Christmas eve box as it's not long until it's nearly over. So for DD10 at various points during December the elves bring:

• Christmas pjs
• Christmas books
• Christmas crafts
• Christmas hair accessories
• Christmas stickers
• Christmas bedding
• Other random bits

In the Christmas eve box which she opens in the morning I tend to put:

• New toothbrush
• An outfit for Christmas Day
• Chocolate/ Sweets (Has to include a choc Santa)
• Small Toys (mini brands ect)
• Hot Chocolate Sachets
• Marshmallows
• Items to leave out for Santa
• A book from one of her favourite authors
• Some fancy socks or hair things
• An item of jewellery

In ours, the plastic Santa plate and glass from toddler-hood made an annual appearance (to put out Santa’s snack), and DD’s stocking were inside to lay out. New PJs, lavender filled lush bath bomb (to encourage sleep), posh hot chocolate (the “lump of chocolate stuck on a wooden spoon” type) to have after the bath. And the family copy of “Twas the night before Christmas”, which was read snuggled into new PJs after relaxing bath while drinking hot chocolate and getting relaxed for bed and sleep.

so a mix of old favourites and some new consumables.

Once again for those at the back.
Christmas BOX

Not stockings, not gifts , not a pillowcase or a flamboyantly embroidered bag with a child's initials on it.

A box is a completely separate, very recent phenomenon in addition to the above hence the commonly held argument re overconsumption angle.
Hope that helps 🎄

Oh good grief 🙄
Some people call it a "box" because it's literally a box with items in.
Some people might put very similar items in a gift bag or a stocking or even the carrier bag from The Works where the Christmas craft sets were purchased from.
It doesn't matter. It's all the same concept.
As I said at the beginning of the thread I generally have a "December 1st Box".
Actually it's called "getting the Christmas stuff out" and all the various bits and bobs, decorations etc are currently in 4 boxes plus some loose bits in the cupboard.

I have teens and two younger DC, I’ve always done a Xmas Eve box and always added the same stuff. Just matching Christmas pjs, socks and chocolate coins. I used to add a Christmas lush bath bomb too but they prefer showers so I don’t bother with that now.

I have used the same wooden boxes for many years so it is literally a box. I’ve done this for 16 years so not a recent phenomenon in our house!

Oh never mind. Maybe look it up.

Ours is a literal cardboard box that held the Christmas books in storage during the year, and the Christmas Eve contents on 24th. Annual usage for over 17 years, but not for the past 3 or so. So definitely not new phenomenon.

I "looked it up".
The only information I could find about the history of Christmas Eve boxes was that they started to become popular out of nowhere about 15 years possibly influenced by East European families who celebrate their gifts more on Christmas Eve than on the 25th.
Manufacturers realised and started producing purpose made boxes (wooden or cardboard).
Although the concept of a box is relatively new the objects that people put in them have been fairly traditional for longer (ie a special plate for the mince pie for Father Christmas).
So really it's something people have been doing for decades.

I've never heard of story cubes before but they look brilliant. It says suggested age 6 up but my 3 year old loves making up stories. Do you think she's too young?

A 3yr old could play with adult help i think

Thank you! Prefect stocking gift!
Plus I'm collecting games/toys we can take the restaurants/pubs and play over a drink with her. These seem ideal

We like to keep it simple, we do one shared box, with:
same book ‘the night before Christmas’ that we get out each year,
hot chocolate,
bath bomb,
a few little snacks each for a movie,
(used to include a dvd but we just stream something these days)
sticker book/colouring book and some new felt tips, to give them something to do whilst we finish prepping the veg for the next day,
plate and cup (same each year) for Father Christmas to leave out,
one small surprise type toy each (this year I’m thinking it will probably be a squishy dumpling as they’re currently obsessed)