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!

Some people do it, some don’t. It doesn’t have to be ridiculously commercial.

I do it, but usually the same weekend as the tree goes up so they can wear their Xmas pjs and read the book during Dec. Mine usually includes:

Pjs
Christmas jumpers ( which I’d buy anyway)
No hot choc (controversial!)
Xmas book
New Xmas decoration
Cake / biscuit kit
Chocolate coins

Box itself is just a normal box - no personalised crates here.

Never heard about this concept before.

See, even before we did “the hamper”, dd had her stocking to lay out, used her plate and glass for Santa’s snack, would have a festive bath and a hot chocolate before reading the book.

So the only difference was putting it all together in a box and adding PJs (she would get a new pair in winter anyway so no extra expense). But putting it all together made it all feel like a lot more and a better signal about heading towards bed and sleep.

It’s like any “tradition” - whether Christmas, any other feast/festivals, or a regular family thing - do what suits YOUR FAMILY not what everyone else does.

We don’t go to Panto every year because while I enjoy it, there are enough other things we need to try and squash into the time.

We don’t do Elf on a Shelf (although I have put DDs teddies into various “having a party”, “bedtime story” or “getting up to mischief” scenarios once or twice in advent when she was small - just for a bit of fun - but not so much it got expected).

There is a lot you can do that is meaningful without spending extra money - my list of advent activities that I used to have to keep dd busy included making decorations (simple ones), baking cookies for the local fire station (always appreciated), getting DD to buy (ok a money one) something that she thought someone her age would enjoy for a local “giving tree”, winter walks in local woods, movie afternoon (dvd at home usually with microwave popcorn), and cleaning her room to get rid of toys and clothes that no longer fit or are too young for her now....

It depends what works for YOU and YOUR FAMILY, NO ONE ELSE. Sorry for shouting but lots of people seem to forget that part of sharing these traditions.

Why do you think drama is important at school?

Hi all

Massive thank you to all of the contributions so far - we know it's not for everyone, and we actually didn't know too much about it ourselves - that's why we're asking you!

Keep them coming!

Why do people comment on these posts if it makes them irrationally angry?! Let people do Christmas how they want ffs, no one is making you join in 🙄

We have bags with their names on and they have

*New pyjamas whether they need them or not because who can ever have too many pyjamas!

• Sachet of hot chocolate

• A bar of chocolate of some sort

• A new book each

That's it, nothing crazy but they love it!

wilberforce

Same!

Dd gets pjs for her birthday as well...she virtually lives in them so they get lots of use

My dc are 15 and 12, never did Xmas Eve boxes til my Mum did one for them last year when we stayed there. To my surprise it was really popular with them to the extent they've insisted asked for one from me this year.

I've got Xmas themed blankets, Xmas scented candle, new hot water bottles in fluffy covers (needed this year) favourite chocolates, a rather large mug cake kit, DVD and board game.

@Wilberforce1 Why do people comment on these posts if it makes them irrationally angry?! Let people do Christmas how they want ffs, no one is making you join in

Because it isn't just a random post. It's an official post from Mumsnet that is therefore prescriptive as well as descriptive. It's stating - this is a thing that parents do, & therefore that you as a parent are expected to do.

The stated aim of the site is to make parents' lives easier. That's supposed to be the guiding principles of the Talk guidelines.

Creating yet another load of expensive and/or time-consuming demands for parents (mostly mums, let's be honest) and yet again upping the expectations of what we are meant to do is not making parents' lives easier- quite the reverse.

Mumsnet is a very influential voice in parenting. It's absolutely right that people should speak out against this. It's insidious & unwelcome.

@DuchessMustard So we must never discuss anything in case it makes some parents feel like they are under pressure? So let's not discuss the extra curricular activities our children do, let's not discuss if we send our kids to private school or where we are going on holiday in case it makes other parents feel inferior or rubbish. People have many traditions at Christmas and I'm not going to stop discussing mine in case someone is offended or pissed off by it. If you don't like the content then scroll on by..

Mumsnet were asking what we put in Christmas Eve boxes so if you don't do them or can't afford to then just ignore the post it's not difficult!

@Wilberforce1 no one is telling you to stop it, but other people are posting their opinions, and that's also fine. I'm with @DuchessMustard.

I posted something similar because I have genuinely never ever heard of these things apart from on MN and so wanted to add a bit of balance to the debate, and also because I do genuinely believe that we are all drowning in too much stuff and that it's worth saying that sometimes.

Christmas jumpers and Christmas Eve boxes are what capitalism does when you already have all of the things that you actually need, in order to persuade you that you need more. (And it's not just about Christmas, I could add prosecco for dogs and Halloween plastic bunting to that list too).

This insatiable urge to consume has to stop at some point, otherwise we will all drown in plastic, so it is worth - to me - saying something when yet another piece of consumption is being 'normalised'.

Perhaps @LilyMumsnet might feed this back as well.

The kids.

My mother.

And then I can open the wine

Artisan, you are right, it is really important to keep drawing attention to gratuitous consumption. I'm no Grinch, but all of our family Christmas gifting is second hand (books, tech, clothing, toys, even the jewellery I know DP has bought me) because I just can't bear adding another thing to the mountain of stuff under which our society is groaning.

Who the hell wants all second hand for Christmas?!

Im also just posting my opinions, if we can't splurge a bit at Christmas then when can we 🤷‍♀️

@artisanparsnips it's just fun, in this miserable world we are all entitled to a bit of fun and a bit of over indulgence especially at Christmas.

Fill your boots to those who happily do this, of course, but to me this is another recent 'unnecessary/unwelcome/spend more money/have more stuff n tat/more pressure on parents and kids to achieve and have/social media influenced' thing in the UK like Elf on the Shelf, the Coke Truck {?!), and even, I understand, 1st December boxes too now - and we don't partake. I don't know anyone who partakes IRL except one mum friend who did Elf last year because of peer pressure on her youngest DC.

They have enough already, and we have enough happy traditions as it is, not forgetting what the true spirit and meaning of Christmas is in our house. If the tree is up by bedtime, the pjs are relatively clean, the house is warm enough, there's enough food, we're all still here and as healthy as we can be, and something nice will be being brought down the chimney for everyone, then I call it a win.

Besides, the DCs know that Mummy is far too busy opening the gin bottle and kissing Santa Claus.

Wilberforce, I know our opinions on this topic differ, and I'm definitely not irrationally angry about it. I am just done contributing to the manufacturing of new 'stuff'. It's amazing how quickly one's perception changes once one unplugs from consumerist society, even in a small way. Having not bought new clothes in conventional shops for years, a recent emergency required me to visit a few high street clothes shops, and I found it absolutely shocking. Unless you believe that there is something inherently disgusting about other people, then choosing second hand alternatives is a way out of adding to the mess. I am just as happy with a manufacturer refurbished, new-to-me phone or tablet as I would be with a brand new one. Some people take amazingly good care of their shoes and clothing, and there is precious little difference between their pre-loved items on eBay and a box-fresh alternative. I love the jewellery of two particular designers, and I especially love it that DP hunts down hard to come by pieces on the second hand market for me.
I think it is healthy to challenge the premise of consumer society, and to keep a lively debate going about how our consumption impacts on the environment, especially at times of the year associated with buying loads of stuff.

I think it is healthy to challenge the premise of consumer society, and to keep a lively debate going about how our consumption impacts on the environment, especially at times of the year associated with buying loads of stuff

I totally agree with this, 100%.

Christmas, for me, is about creating traditions with the DC and enjoying them.

We're not religious, so we don't do any of the churchy stuff.

Christmas for us is about family and friends spending time together, eating drinking and being merry, and taking time to enjoy each other's company in between the bickering.

Stockings and presents are part of Christmas. The act of giving and receiving present doesn't have to be commercial. Unless you're against presents completely, then gifts are part of Christmas, surely? But, how you approach them makes all the difference.

My DM and DMIL for example, are getting sloe gin this year - with sloes picked by me and the DC - with home made labels, and made with quality gin. Both DM and MIL love gin, and will love that the DC picked the sloes and made the labels. Sure, I bought the gin, but I don't see it as overly commercial - do you? It'll get drunk!

A Christmas box doesn't have to be commercial. Our box is all about the DC winding down to bed and - as I said upthread - the hot chocolate was out of the cupboard and the basket recycled.

Personally I don't like Elf on the Shelf, sounds like far too much work to me! But others like it, why not? I'm not going to have a go at them for it.

Capitalism will worm its way in to make profit out of anything it can. But that doesn't mean we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Giving gifts is a good thing to do. It's the over indulgence and tat that's driven by capitalism, surely? Not gift giving of all kinds?

I have no doubt, if you apply a bit of imagination, you can see how Christmas boxes don't need to be commercial. If they're not for you, don't knock it. But others enjoy them, and why not?

Christmas Eve boxes are what capitalism does when you already have all of the things that you actually need, in order to persuade you that you need more

Christmas Eve boxes are what Mumsnet does to you when you need a cunning plan, in order to persuade over-excited DC to get into their PJs and wind down for bed without too much fuss on Christmas Eve!

I think you're missing this vital part of it! For lots of us, it's not about giving more stuff, as the stuff in the boxes, they would have got anyway. It's a cunning way of presenting it, not an excuse to buy yet more stuff.

I'm sure many people do buy more stuff for this, but you really don't have to, and that's kinda missing the point!

Christmas Eve boxes are what Mumsnet does to you when you need a cunning plan, in order to persuade over-excited DC to get into their PJs and wind down for bed without too much fuss on Christmas Eve!

I thought that's what saying "Santa won't come unless you are in bed asleep" was for

I know, Everybody, of course people should enjoy themselves, and gifting is a really lovely part of Christmas celebrations, whether in a box, stocking or under a tree. My kids will be rolling in gifts, the same as other people's, but theirs will be pre-loved. No big deal. I just can't pass up a chance to toot the horn of less-is-more.

Whaaaa???? Nothing nada Christmas Eve is for going up to midnight mass coming home getting the little monkeys into bed drinking a bit of sherry and putting out some stockings.

Best christmas tip - all stockings should be hung on downstairs fireplace. That way Santa doesn't have to tiptoe into any bedrooms to try and untie the complicated knot that any DC has done around bedposts in the dark, while Santa is three-quarters pie eyed on sherry/whisky/gin/vodka/insert seasonal lubricant of choice...

To be serious... why on earth are you even asking? MN has been taking the piss out of the weirdos who do Christmas Eve boxes for many years, now suddenly you're asking as though it was normal to do this utter commercialist plastic tat shite? Are you trying to impress a potential new multinational conglomerate advertiser?

Nothing, never heard of Ch Eve boxes, and never will participate either, all just marketing for the bewildered on FB or SC.

Christmas Eve is more magical than Christmas Day to us anyway. Go to town see the lights, wander around, listen to the buskers and have a ball.

MN has been taking the piss out of the weirdos who do Christmas Eve boxes for many years

Really? I bet loads of the people on this thread who do the, got the idea from MN. Every year, some people go bah humbug at the idea, but loads say they do them IME.