.Christmas eve boxes? Really ?

Well, we never did that, but as long as it is restricted to useful things like pjs to change into, maybe some glitterless reindeer food, perhaps some Christmas crafts or a book, all coming out of tomorrow's pressies, all ok, but I'd never add actual presents if I was doing it, and also there is no need to use a big box. Maybe a box could be a craft activity in the run-up to Christmas

Kali2

Weren't you just talking about reducing carbon footprint.

Lovely memories are not about more and more presents, packaging, etc ... If it is, then I think it is very sad.

Oh how I agree. Just more rampant consumerism and I actually think it robs Christmas of it’s magic to have more and more stuff.

I completely aggree. Let's stick to being exited on Christmas eve looking forward to
Santa coming . Christmas boxes definitely not!!!

I just read my dds "The night before Christmas' book then rang a little bell from the bottom of the stairs when they were in bed (to show He was on his way)

My chikdren always had new pj's christmas eve. But its just a consumerism fest now, spend! Spend! Spend! Yuk,yuk,yuk!

I am not sure why this is thought to be an American idea. I have lived in the U.S. since 1964 and have never heard of Christmas Eve boxes.

Sashabel I live in America and have never heard of Christmas Eve boxes!

MissAdventure

I think it's time we had pre christmas eve boxes, just to tide us over until the first of the present opening starts on christmas eve....
I'm sure we can find somewhere in the world that does similar, if we try hard enough.
I'm not a fan, although I do like the elf on the shelf thing.

??

A box a day to open every day throughout Advent.

My idea - you saw it here first ?

What did you say? It sounds like an Advent Calendar?
Oh, I thought I'd invented a money spinner!

They are money spinners aren't they?
Never mind just opening the doors these days.
Never mind a chocolate behind each door.
Nope, now it has to be an expensive little gift behind each door.

Well I've just popped into sainsburys to buy their bloody pyjamas and mugs as I had £7.50 off if I spent £50 spent double and have now been given another £7.50 off voucher so I guess I'll have some excuse to spend more money -which isn't difficult now they have a habitat department--

Oh goodness, a big fat NO to Christmas Eve boxes!! FFS! Glad I’m old!! As to celebrating Christmas Eve - that’s my kind of thing!! Lots of European countries do this and we always went skiing at Christmas and the joy of just greenery, candles and no tacky tat was such a joy!! I haven’t been a lifelong curmudgeon but I feel desperately sad for the so many people put under huge pressure to conform to everyone else!! Joyeaux Noel to all lovely Gran’s Netters!!! ??????

I have never done it and never will, the excitement is for presents on Christmas Day not Christmas Eve

My daughter gave my grandson (her nephew) his first Christmas Eve box when he was 6 months old. It contained Christmas pyjamas which were worn till he grew out of them. He is 4 now and get new pjs from Aunty every year with some chocolates. Grandson/nephew 2 now also has a box which will have pyjamas and in time a little treat. Personally I think she has started a lovely little tradition for her much loved nephews. It will be pjs and a treat for as long as possible. The wooden boxes with names on are packed away brought out each year. Harmless Christmas tradition. Merry Christmas everyone.

Both my daughter in laws are saying they wished they'd never started Chrisrmas Eve boxes......or the Elves!

my son is 35 and i did a christmas eve box when he was little, long before it was the in thing, mine was a shoe box (dad had size 12 feet) covered in christmas paper with new pjs, some sweets, a couple of cheap cars/action figures and a new bedtime book, it just my way of saying it's nearly christmas, i had to try really hard at christmas as i never liked it, found out when my son was 11 that he did not like christmas either and he still doesn't, he did not want to say as he thought i would be upset. he has a 3 year old and a 14 year old step-son (he is not keen on christmas) so dad and older brother need to try and make is special for the little one. everyone thinks all children love christmas.

My girl was allowed to choose one tiny present to open on Christmas eve, on condition that she stuffed the turkey first.

Wooden box with GC name on it - inside pjs, book or game and a couple of chocolate coins.

I guess that’s fine if you can afford it or only have one or two GC. This year, my GC are having the above-named items as their main presents from us! That’s expensive enough, but if those things were for Xmas Eve and I had to provide yet another present on Xmas day as well, the costs would be even higher.

MissAdventure can you instigate a Boxing Day present tradition, too? And maybe one for New Year, because I find Hogmanay depressing and I deserve another present then. Or even two or three presents.

It does sound quite harmless, I had never heard of this. I feel a bit troubled that it sort of starts a precedent & I wouldn't want to feel obliged to buy a christmas eve present for children, & certainly not for adults, when they have lots of pressies next day anyway. New pjs and a small treat sounds sweet though. As long as it stays optional. Presents can be wasteful, even pjs if you buy ones with a character they've decided isnt cool any longer & they get a pair they like better...doesnt it take the edge off the magic of Santa & the next day though?

Each to their own I always think, no point in getting too opinionated as we are all so different, thankfully!

We have been doing it for a few years, but we don’t push the boat out. Cardboard Christmas boxes that come out every year, Christmas pyjamas, a few sweets, and a small gift, which will be one of the presents that was destined as a stocking filler. I buy things in the sales after Christmas and put them away for the following Christmas. Very little money is spent, but it is a bit of fun, and if the children have had to stay indoors due to bad weather or the current Covid situation, it all adds to the excitement, along with watching Norad tracks Santa from around lunchtime on the 24th!

Valdali - skip the characters on the pjs maybe, but you could say that whatever time of year you bought them.
My ex had a Christmas tradition that we kept up, that of a little present after Christmas tea from the Christmas tree, it was never anything big, either a jokey present, or for the adults something you'd use anyway or a Christmas decoration for the tree. Usually, I'd just pick something out of the presents I'd got, having being on the lookout for little fun things through the year, maybe even from charity shops
I'd never instigate a box if I ever have gcs, or an elf. An advent calendar is enough.

As children my brother's and I always had new PJ's which we unwrapped on Christmas Eve along with a small bag of sweets. We played board games as a family and had cocoa or Horlicks before putting out milk, mince pie and carrots for Father Christmas and the reindeers, I did exactly the same for my children, my daughters now do same with their families, although they tend to watch a Christmas film together rather than play board games. I think some people probably do go ott but that is their choice.

When I was eight, I was getting a huge dolly- life sized 3 year old,- for Christmas. She cost £8/1/3d. I was so excited that I became ill and had to have time off school. My uncle gathered a bunch of items from his shop- bric-a-brac really- wrapped it and put it into a box for me. I got it a couple of days before Christmas and it sorted me out. My Mum and Dad were surprised but grateful as, before his kind act, I couldn’t eat or sleep and had run a high temperature. I wonder if this is what prompted these boxes ? Surely I wasn’t the only one who ‘suffered’ with with pre Christmas hysteria.

I nearly always got a migraine if I was looking forward to something, which then meant that I didn't get to do or have whatever caused the excitement.
I'd be in bed for 3 days with lights flashing in my vision, a terrible, terrible headache, and throwing up.