Christmas Eve Boxes

Nothing at all!

But these 'Christmas Eve Boxes' are a recent invention designed, as far as I can see, to make Christmas even more stressful and expensive for parents already stretched to the limit...

In some parts of Europe St Nicholas's Day is 6th December and children clean their shoes and leave them in the window on the 5th December, St Nicholas's Eve, in the hope they will be filled with little presents and chocolates.

I don't think they are. I think they are an adaptation of Scandinavian practices.
There is no need to buy anything extra, just spread out what you have already bought.
My grandchildren know that one as well, Jalima. It's good that children know about all these different traditions, I think.

It's a Croatian tradition

I did think about the pyjama, chocolate and dvd idea but I've spent enough already.

What's a Croatian tradition?

Is it not German as well?

The shoes in the window are a Croatian tradition, I'm not sure about other countries.

Just googled it, yes a tradition in a lot of European (mainly Catholic) countries.

I suppose that is how the tradition of putting stockings up on Christmas Eve came about.

Ana, our family has done simple Christmas Eve boxes for years. The only thing new in them is the pj's, so not expensive and not anything new.

Fair enough ginny, but it's only become big commercial news in very recent years.

Some of my family (all grown up) have had their Christmas presents today, and also Christmas lunch. There was a good reason however, As one of my grandsons is off to Australia on Monday for several months so his dad decided to bring Christmas forward in their house. I had hoped the traveller would take his presents to open in Sydney but the hope was short-lived. ?

I have a Swedish friend living here, and we've 'done' Christmas with her many times. Their big day is Christmas Eve, but I've never once heard her mention Elves on shelves or boxes.
Her main Christmas tradition - apart from their traditional food - seems to be a candle bridge in every window from the first Sunday in Advent.
As far as I can make out (though willing to be proved wrong) the elf is not a well worn tradition as such, but something someone has thought up not too long ago, which has become the latest 'must have' - though if you read Mumsnet a lot of parents are very anti, and some children are frightened of an elf that can creep around in the night, spy on them, and get up to mischief.

I was negative about 'elf on shelf' stuff when i saw something on social media. However I have since discovered that my eldest daughter & her husband are having huge fun with the idea - as are their children (6 & 9)
She bought a cheap 'elf' and he 'goes back to the North Pole' for a couple of days now and again to give them a rest from thinking of places the elf can be 'found'
My daughter also uses Christmas eve to produce new pyjamas and the family curl up to watch a new dvd before bed. I think it's a great way to settle excited children and create a lovely Christmas tradition & none of it needs to be very expensive.

When I was little we always opened one present on Christmas eve as I was physically sick with excitement by Christmas day. This became a family tradition (the present not the being sick).

Nannanoo that made me howl, thank you

I was allowed to open my stocking when I woke up on Christmas morning but had to have Breakfast & get dressed before rest of presents could be opened - I carried this on with DD & she has with DGS.

DD has an elf which DGS loves - he's very naughty

Don't see need for present(s) on Christmas Eve although new pjs are a good idea

Never heard of this! Is it English?