Christmas Eve Boxes?

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  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 32,874 Forumite
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    edited 18 December 2018 at 10:10AM
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    Never had a Christmas Eve box and didn't really know what they were.
    In our family Christmas Eve was about last minute prezzie wrapping, a communal making the sausage rolls and prepping the food for the next day, then midnight mass for those that wanted to go.
    There's generally far too much still to do than sit down for a board game and a film. Running round trying to find a shop still open selling batteries, for example. :D

    None of the family members with children do it either. Is it a recent (as in the last few years) thing?
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 19,311 Forumite
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    Pollycat wrote: »
    I've never heard of this 'tradition' (and I'm a pensioner).


    Where has this idea come from?
    And how long has it been a 'tradition'?

    It s another American 'tradition' that is being adopted here.
  • candygirl
    candygirl Posts: 29,455 Forumite
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    My DD does it for the Grandkids.Puts new pjs, hot choc, n dvds in it :)
    "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf"

    (Kabat-Zinn 2004):D:D:D
  • pippo
    pippo Posts: 3,891 Forumite
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    I too hate the idea of more commercialism and struggling parents feeling that they have to spend even more money, but I've done my own version of this a few times.

    As 'long distance' grandparents we often go to stay with DS and his family for Christmas and I would look to keep my granddaughters entertained whilst their mum and dad were busy. I would pack a 'nanny bag' containing a few sweets, new PJs, a book and one or two silly things like reindeer food(home made) or antlers. I'd bring these out when I felt I needed to. I will always remember our youngest shrieking with delight and stripping off there an then to put on her new PJs!!!
  • kittennose
    kittennose Posts: 142 Forumite
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    Totally unnecessary - in my experience this kills christmas for kids. The best part was always the excitement and anticipation of Christmas morning. Xmas eve was unbearable, in a good way.

    Giving gifts early just ruins it.

    Better to just spend the day with your kids and give them lots of attention, play games with them.

    I fear in many houses the xmas eve box of new PJ's and aDVD is there to make life easier for mum a and dad who can quieten hyper active excited kids and stick their kids in front of a film.
  • cherylblade
    cherylblade Posts: 7 Forumite
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    We do a Christmas Eve bag.

    Contents vary from year to year but the idea is primarily to promote cuddly, relaxing family time.

    This year it’s a dressing gown and slippers for my daughter, a small box of chocolates for the family to share, and some bubble bath for a Christmas Eve bath before bed.

    In other years we’d include a DVD or book, but we now have enough Christmas books and DVDs. You only need so many.
  • kwame41
    kwame41 Posts: 168 Forumite
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    Personal choice in my opinion. I didnt have one as child but I would have been pleased to get one.

    Traditions are made by doing things like this year after year.

    Merry Christmas! to the fans & Bah Humbug! to the others.

    :)
  • kathrynha
    kathrynha Posts: 2,469 Forumite
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    We have done a Christmas Eve present for my daughter since she was little.

    Always includes new PJs so that she looks presentable in the photos the next morning.


    When she was little I would include a new bath toy or bath product. This was a clever ploy so that I could make her have a longer and hopefully noisier bath on Christmas Eve.
    Whilst she was in the bath, and I was supervising her my husband would use the time to get the presents out of the loft, past her bedroom door and in to the lounge without her noticing. She never went back downstairs after her bath.


    Now she is almost a teenager I include a DVD and a bag of popcorn, so that we can sit down as a family and have a lovely chilled out evening.
    Zebras rock
  • Basia022
    Basia022 Posts: 13 Forumite
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    This is a new thing I think. I think it is a tradition in Germany where I understand that they give presents on Christmas EVE not Christmas Day like the royal family?
  • candygirl
    candygirl Posts: 29,455 Forumite
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    Basia022 wrote: »
    This is a new thing I think. I think it is a tradition in Germany where I understand that they give presents on Christmas EVE not Christmas Day like the royal family?

    Oh yea, the royals are probably embracing their German heritage then :D
    "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf"

    (Kabat-Zinn 2004):D:D:D
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