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Christmas Eve Boxes

(94 Posts)
Jennac Thu 08-Dec-16 08:57:01

Stop the world I want to get of! Now parents are being encouraged to give their little ones/proberly big ones as well. Christmas Eve Boxes!!!!! Fill them up and it settles them down for the BIG NIGHT.

I must admit we used to give ours one small gift, and I mean small,,, Not a BOX filled with stuff, More pressure for parents, more spoilt kids, more debt for the new year, ask kids in January. , what did you get? Can't remember.
Rant over.

NanaandGrampy Thu 08-Dec-16 17:33:35

smile Jalima we've had the pleasure of Stans company for about 5 years and it seemed time for him to move on. In fact he spent last festive season on holiday in Florida !!

My girls have done the Christmas Eve box for 10 years I think .

My eldest daughter also puts new bedding on her kids bed after they have fallen asleep on Christmas Eve ! The kids never stir ? .. it's their elfs parting gift .

Jalima Thu 08-Dec-16 17:24:03

www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/lily-allen-joins-elf-on-the-shelf-craze/28393.html

By the look of that elf, I'd be sending him off on a round-the-world trip too to look for a new family grin

Jalima Thu 08-Dec-16 17:20:42

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38220870

I'm just wondering where this started?

Tradition or a "clever retail invention"

NanaandGrampy Thu 08-Dec-16 17:11:32

My daughters have always done a Christmas eve box. It contains new pjs , the book The Night Before Christmas, hot chocolate sachets and a favourite Christmas DVD.

The box is recycled year on year and the kids love it. I don't think its spoiling or over indulging them in any way. Just a way of spreading the Christmas magic. A family tradition.

I think it can be as difficult or complicated or simple and easy as you like.

We all have Elves too. Our elf is called Stan !!

The kids ( and my daughters have a high old time with them and again , they don't seem particularly stressed about it. Our elf is currently on a round the world trip and pops up on FB every morning in a new country's landmark. he's looking for a new family smile

Ana Thu 08-Dec-16 17:08:43

I've heard mixing your drinks is bad...

Jalima Thu 08-Dec-16 17:04:12

I do know people who used to leave Santa a glass of milk

Ana Thu 08-Dec-16 17:00:02

Yes, perhaps the traditional glass of sherry for Santa should be replaced by a glass of water! grin

FarNorth Thu 08-Dec-16 16:59:54

You got it, Anya!

Jalima Thu 08-Dec-16 16:50:25

Some of the cards I bought this year depict Santa being picked up by a life-boat - and the presents have been safely rescued too, thank goodness. The reindeer meanwhile make their merry way pulling the sleigh through the sky without noticing he's fallen out.

Presumably Santa was so drunk that he fell out of the sleigh before he'd finished delivering to all the excited little children shock

felice Thu 08-Dec-16 16:06:36

Mentioned them to DD this afternoon, tongue in cheek of course.
She growled, really, the dog headed under the table.
We have had, Belgian St Nicolaas,(marbles and one of those polystyrene Aeroplanes from me) then we have Brazilian Christmas Eve, then Christmas day, then Belgian New Year more pressies.
Elf on the Shelf would be for DD here, and still no idea when SIL will get home from work on Christmas Eve, 2.00am Christmas Day last year, then start again at 6.00am on St Stephens' Day.
Bah humbug would sum DD up at the moment, luckily I am doing all the cooking.

Katek Thu 08-Dec-16 15:53:12

When Elsa met the elf.....

LumpySpacedPrincess Thu 08-Dec-16 15:07:29

tsk tsk Lara, Tsk. Tsk. tchsmile

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 08-Dec-16 15:05:01

Gah! Sorry Princess. We thought we'd activated them but clearly it hadn't worked. They should be on the list now. tchblush

Anya Thu 08-Dec-16 14:34:04

You ever seen a male fairy FarNorth?

other choices confused

as in 'other genders are available'

FarNorth Thu 08-Dec-16 14:18:22

Rubbish! Of course there are female & male & other choices in elfs, pixies, fairies etc etc.

Anya Thu 08-Dec-16 13:54:33

Ah ha!

rosesarered Thu 08-Dec-16 13:52:04

...and don't even get me started on the subject of fairies.

Anya Thu 08-Dec-16 13:50:24

Elfs are male! I'm surprised at the level of ignorance re elfs and pixies.

rosesarered Thu 08-Dec-16 13:49:35

You won't say that Carol when you find that all the Baileys has vanished.tchgrin

Carol1ne63 Thu 08-Dec-16 13:46:54

I have an Elf, but she justs sits on different shelves and moves around to keep an eye on the kids. I didn't realise she was meant to be doing pranks as well! She's quite lazy so I don't think she'll get up to much.

Anya Thu 08-Dec-16 13:44:02

Anyway real elfs are invisible.

rosesarered Thu 08-Dec-16 13:37:16

Yes Jalima if Santa drinks like a fish and the reindeer eat like gluttons, it's a wonder the sleigh takes off from all those rooftops!

rosesarered Thu 08-Dec-16 13:35:10

You are wrong Clever...... you can't get away with just placing the elf in a funny position , it has to do funny things as well.tchgrin How parents find time and energy for this I don't know.

Cleverblonde Thu 08-Dec-16 13:23:04

Am I missing something here? In the midst of looking for a new job, trying to buy/sell a house and do all the Christmas shopping I suddenly need to find time to think of witty positions to leave a random elf doll overnight and then post all over social media to show what a creative mother I am. Seriously my 2 year old is excited enough that she sees the Christmas tree and opens her advent calendar every day. As for Xmas eve gifts the only person who will get those is my dad as its his birthday!
Who needs an elf to check on behaviour anyway, surely everyone knows that the Robins who watch through the window report back to Father Christmas about children's behaviour wink

Jalima Thu 08-Dec-16 12:31:31

Never heard of half of these things!!

My poor, deprived DC and DGC.

and it's a wonder Santa manages to get around what with all the sherry, whisky and now even Baileys!! together with a mince pie with brandy in it grin
I thought reindeer just ate carrots, I didn't know there was special food.

They do learn the meaning of Christmas beforehand with Nativity plays, Christingle services and carol services and we all have little nativity scenes set up at home.