How have these new fads come about ?

Sant Claus is of course the religious link being Saint Nikolaus form Holland whereas I understood Father Christmas to be more of a commercial construct. Happy to be told different!

Father Christmas knows if you're being good or naughty, no Elf needed.
I don't like this term "Santa". What's happening to Father Christmas?

Jings ?????

Ebenezer Scrooge was a much misunderstood man!

My DGD1 loves llamas..not sure why!

I just noticed that Granfromafar's daughter has had the same idea of using the security light as a Santa's spycam!

Reference the popularity of llamas, my Australian GD's daddy is Peruvian. They have been delighted with the llama-themed clothes that I have sent over.

From my understanding the Elf on the Shelf can be moved to different locations around the house. The idea is that he is watching the children and can report back to Santa if there is any naughty behavior afoot. It's a relatively new thing that I only heard of recently.

Personally, I don't think children should have to worry about being 'spied' on by one of Santa's elves, no less. It also smacks of intimidation

Willow500 My daughter didn't bother with robins telling Santa who had been naughty. She had a security system which included a little light which blinked in the corner of the room, up by the ceiling. She told the children that it was Father Christmas's elves keeping an eye on them to make sure that they were behaving. It worked well for quite a few years.
They are both in their late teens now, and have a good laugh about it.

Most families Christmas = pieces of both parents family traditions + the bit they created together when they made their own families

Todays new fads are Tomorrows old traditions.

& family rituals/traditions matter. They are the pieces of each other you get to keep hold of when your love ones have gone

Still, all families are different, as long as everyone is happy, that's all that matters.
Exactly! People enjoy it, it doesnt hurt anyone & its not compulsary

The shops are totally delighted by all these new Christmas rituals.
Surely people will be stuffing their faces enough for the next few days.
No rituals with no little ones in the house and Mr Grumpy.

I've always included every day stuff in Christmas presents; toothbrushes, knickers, slippers and so on.
Still, all families are different, as long as everyone is happy, that's all that matters.

The Christmas eve box is a great way of making "boring" unremarkable necessary purchases feel like a treat.

The bubble bath is going to get replenished anyway but instead of it just being a weekly shop item it feels like a special treat when its "christmas eve bubble bath"

Kids are going to outgrow PJs anyway....not the most exciting purchase especially as kids get older, but call them "christmas eve PJ" and associate them with hot chocolate and a christmas movie and hey presto, you've made a present out of something unremarkable that would have been bought anyway

In my house stockings also contain socks, pants & a new toothbrush (as well as chocolate and a few other bits. If a toothbrush gets replaced on a Tuesday in March its not much fun but my kids still (now that theyre past the santa stage) love finding their Christmas toothbrush in their stocking for some reason.

The Christmas Eve boxes that my friends do also contain the same movies and books that get packed away each year.

Far from being an extra expense, it is a way of sprinkling magic on everyday items

As to fads, I can remember from my own childhood big flouncy petticoats (my sister and I used to count the layers to see who had the most), pixie hats, Alice bands, cardigans featuring dogs or cats and duster coats. In my teens there were charm bracelets, leather thong belts, Loon pants, Scholls and white PVC boots. I don't think fads are anything new.

Yes, indeed Cherrytrees...whatever next - disgusting habit - think of all those bugs you might be bringing in on a tree! As a child I remember the tree was actually lit with candles and then we used to dance round it - how dangerous was that! Would have got rid of bugs though!

BTW - are you really a fellow TW member?

Notanan I love your Christmad!!

My DGC have their Christmas Eve rituals, snuggling up on the settee in new onesies to watch a seasonal DVD, munch on popcorn and drink hot chocolate with marshmallows on top. Then hanging up stockings, leaving out refreshments for FC and his reindeer before going to bed. I think it helps them get to sleep at a reasonable time so that FC can fill the stockings and they aren't too tired next day, despite an early start!
I think the Christmas Eve Box idea is just a way of cashing in on a pre-existing tradition, but if you can afford it and want to then why not? We have to remember that some businesses rely on the Christmas trade to stay solvent.

When I was a child we didn't really have Christmas Eve rituals in our family, apart from my Mum hurriedly putting up the tree, breaking the glass baubles, and swearing like a trooper when the lights didn't work! And that was all while trying to prepare the veggies for the following day. It all seemed to be a lot of hard work to me....

I always insisted I was in bed before midnight so that I went to bed on Christmas Eve and woke up on Christmas Day, and I still do it. Our AC even ring or text to remind me: "It's nearly 11 o'clock Mum, go to bed - quick!"

We bought the Elf on the Shelf toy and book for our GC a few years ago. They love them and look forward to them coming out each year and searching for them every morning. I also do 'Letters from Santa' for the youngest GC too.

I have seen Christmas Eve boxes, but wasn't sure what you were supposed to put in them. Yes, some of them are elaborate (and expensive), but they're a nice idea too. But I won't be tempted until the GC are actually staying with us one Christmas, and then I'll probably make my own.

I had never heard of the custom of having new PJs for Christmas. But I may get a Christmas duvet set for our guest room, and I've just finished making some Christmas cushions.

Well that's Christmas sorted then oldbatty so glad my grandchildren are grown up and I don't have to keep up with this stuff. Good old fashioned Christmas for me.

Here's a list from Mumsnet.

New pj's (xmassy ones)
- Xmas dvd
- Xmas bath bomb
- The night before Christmas book
- Xmas mug with a little sachet of hot chocolate & marshmallows in
- A plastic popcorn box with a bag of popcorn in
- Santas magic key
- Reindeer dust

I too get fed up with all this added 'stuff' so this year I shall 'do' Christmas eve boxes. Not sure what is usually put in them but mine will contain a list of 'tasks' to be completed before any presents arrive/distributed on Christmas day!