MNHQ HERE: What do you pack into a ‘Christmas Eve Box’?

[LilyMumsnet]

Hi all,

MNHQ here with another seasonal request! Don't get too sick of us - still got the Christmas name change competition, yet.

Our wonderful video team are at it again and this time, they're making a very merry video on what to put into a Christmas Eve box.

We have a vague idea of what goes into these festive boxes but we'd really like to hear YOUR thoughts! These are children's boxes, so let's keep it child-friendly...

Anyway, you snow the drill. Drop your favourite items down below and watch this space - a video will soon follow.

P.S If you don't know what we're going on about, a Christmas Eve Box is a box given to children on Christmas Eve. It's usually filled with all the ingredients to make a perfectly jolly evening. So get posting!

Nothing

The idea of sachet "hot choc" and lush bath bombs does nothing for any of us.

More pressure on parents to make memories and feel blessed

So many questions.

@RufusthebewiIderedreindeer have I read your post correctly? you're going to give Christmas underpants, a gingerbread man and a chocolate coin to a 23-year old man to whom you are not even related?

@EggysMom I love your idea of a Christmas Eve box being a box of things you are giving away. my kids regularly do bags of stuff for the charity shop but this is so much more appropriate than more twee, nauseating, consumerist, junk food crap.

@Gottheteeshirtandlostit

Nothing. The very idea gives me the rage. Christmas Eve is about anticipation not gratification!!!

Agree completely .

it's funny how in so many different religions people have kept the traditions that mean they get to stuff their faces, go to parties etc. but have completely jettisoned the ones where you have to to restrict or deny yourself something.

so they'll stuff themselves throughout December because of Christmas but they won't observe Lent.

I'm Jewish and there is a similar thing where people will join in with the fun festivals where you get to eat while not observing the tough ones where you have to fast!

religion and ritual is supposed to be about balancing the two sides of indulgence and denial, not just one indulgence after another

@LilyMumsnet do you acknowledge that by posting this thread with the assumption that people will be doing this that you're putting more pressure on parents, both in terms of buying things and having to live up to a ridiculous fabricated social-media-friendly ideal?

I don't see how that fits in with the spirit of the site which is meant to be about making parents lives easier

We have never done Christmas Eve boxes, but they seem to be a fairly recent phenomenon and weren't really a thing when our dc were small.

Obviously we do still leave out a mince pie, tot of whisky and a carrot for FC and R.

Nothing, have never done one, will never do one. Just not my thing. I totally agree with the poster who said Christmas Eve should be about anticipation rather than gratification, sums it up completely.

When DC believed, putting up stocking, carrot for Rudolph, talking about the magic etc was enough. Now we just enjoy our favourite easy dinner, watch a Xmas film or listen to tunes/carols while prepping etc. It's lovely and best of all - free!

I don't think any parent should feel like they "should have to" do a Xmas Eve box. Fine if you want to, but fine if not too.

duchess

I probably won’t do the pants

Stuff like this seems to reflect society and it's changing trends. Time and activity is placed by quick fixes and money.

Families live further apart, work right up to and including Christmas. Those days of the house being filled with family and friends and a box of Quality Street seem long gone replaced by a soul less elf and a box of tat created by children in countries that don't or can't celebrate

I say probably...I definitely won’t do the pants

I do the Christmas Eve box straight after dinner so it's the activities for the rest of the evening

New pjs
Their stockings so they can hang them up
The 'Santa plate' that has a space for carrot, mince pie and drink
Christmas bath bomb
Christmas story book
Reindeer food
Hot chocolate

Pj's, hot chocolate, Xmas kinder egg and something to do together, after pj's are on. Last year, it was a small seasonal Lego set. They were a big hit, so may try and find another one, this year 👍

Never did one. Why? Isn't Christmas expensive enough for most parents?

Copy of Wifework and a pop up Grinch.

Presents are for Christmas Day. They get enough ( more than enough TBH) then. They don't need loads of extras the day before. Except PJs, but that is just so they are wearing them in any photos on Christmas Day morning and not with their arses hanging out of the old ones.

No, just no. Christmas is stupidly expensive as it is. Really no need for a new tradition of excess to make families who are less well off feel like shit when we can't provide it.

Inflatable gran.
A very, very big box folded up very very small (or self inflating life raft/sleigh/grotto)
Little Christmas hats for all their favourite toys.

We don’t do a Christmas Eve box, it’s more pressure added to parents over an already stressful time. And more expense.

We do drop off food bank items and warm clothes at our local homeless charity though.

Pyjamas, hot chocolate, DVD of Home Alone, Santa's plate, mince pie and miniature of whisky, carrots for the reindeer.

All recycled from last year and the year before and before that, apart from the mince pie, whisky and carrot.

Oh and we always do the rucksack project on December 1st - sleeping bag/hat/scarf/gloves/coat/socks/food items all in a rucksack donated to the local homeless charity.

One box for the family.

We reuse the following every year:
Father Christmas bath duck
Father Christmas flannel
How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD (1960s version)
'Twas the Night Before Christmas picture book
Hot water bottles
Torch each
Stockings

Bought each year:
Red Tinti bath colour sachet
New pyjamas for DC

We make gingerbread people in the morning on Christmas Eve then decorate the tree. We go to Christingle in the afternoon. The Kindness Elves leave the box whilst we are at church as a thank you for all the acts of kindness DC did in December.

We come back from church and watch the DVD eating the gingerbread people. Then we have a picnic dinner under the tree using the sledge as a table. Bath, pyjamas, stockings hung and picture book and bed.

Kindness Elves information:

https://theimaginationtreestore.com

I can't be bothered. It's just a racket for people to sell "personalized Xmas Eve crates" all over facebook every November. Bah, humbug.

Nothing. It's just another excuse for excessive consumerism, doesn't support the true meaning of Christmas and is yet more wife work.

*Christmas pyjamas or any nice ones. Often HP Primark ones.

*Lush bath bomb

*Hot chocolate cone

We do one box for the household. It's basically all about the DC winding down and heading for bedtime. They'll have hot chocolate and new PJs for the DC. Something nice to eat like mince pies or gingerbread biscuits for everyone. Maybe a Christmas DVD if there will be time to watch it. And - essential item! - some nice booze (maybe port) for all the adults.

It doesn't cost anything - I'm always going to give my DC new PJs in winter anyway I just hold on till Christmas to hand them over. All the other stuff I have in the house anyway over Christmas, I'm just presenting it in a box! Last year I used the hit chocolate from the cupboard and an old basket I've had a while.

It's a lovely thing to do, I was inspired by MN a few years back!

If you don't want to do it, don't! It's meant to be a nice bit of fun! And hardly commercial if you don't want it to be.

Loopy -weeping!
I am really surprised to see this as an MNHQ thread. Like really surprised. Like hearing a friend you thought you knew drop a weird clanger at a party, and you think 'Wtaf!?'.
I'm afraid I'm in the urghhh camp. I know people say it doesn't cost anything, or that it's the same items that make a reappearance year after year. Good for you. My DC wouldn't be interested, but then they've recognised capitalism for the opportunistic, predatory beast that it is since they were wee, and are reluctant to participate in the consumerist aspects of the season. New stuff is problematic. Manufacturing is problematic. Every last bit of Christmas related gifting we indulge in is potentially problematic. If I had one wish, it would be for second hand items to be more broadly considered for gifting for the purpose of lessening the environmental impact of the season.