How have these new fads come about ?

It would be nice to give pjs to my two youngest DGSs, but they don't appear to wear them - ever! The younger one likes to sleep with nothing on and the other one wears underpants. On the other hand, their slightly older cousin would spend the whole day in pjs if he could - and sometimes does! Maybe when their girl cousins come for Christmas, they will be a little more modest...
So it woun't be pjs for Christmas from this granny. What to give to 11 and 13 year-olds?

In our family the Christmas Eve pyjamas started when Gran bought them for my sisters and me more than 60 years ago!
I still give pj's to 3 AC and partners plus 4DGC.
Other than that it's small gifts for wee ones plus cash in card for all.
No elves!

Sadly, I can't remember the last time I was over excited.

I think the purpose of Christmas Eve boxes is to stop children getting over excited on Christmas Eve, but I think it takes the edge of off Christmas. Over excited children is part of Christmas eve/night fun. I can remember getting over excited myself. It was great!

It is, of course a marketing ploy to sell more things.

Milk for Father Christmas??? In our house it's always been sherry - the poor old thing needs something to keep the cold out.

Elves on shelves are creepy! In any case, they should all be up at the North Pole, helping poor old Father Christmas.

As for Christmas Eve boxes, must admit I was thinking of doing them for Gdcs, 2 and 3, since they'll be with us this year. I have already abandoned my anti-consumerist principles and bought a (very cheap!) Father Christmas duvet set for the double bed they'll be sharing.

I thought I'd just cover some shoeboxes with Christmas paper and put in a couple of Christmas books I've bought already, Snowman DVD and one other, haven't decided which, and maybe a little chocolate reindeer. Maybe new pyjamas if dd thinks they could do with them.

After all, they're not little for very long, are they? and I don't know whether they'll ever be here for Christmas again.

The Elf on the Shelf thing is a bit of a challenge trying to think of all the naughty things the elf has got up to during the night - not that I've done it as it's new but I know a couple of people with young GC who have. My DIL wouldn't allow it when they came to stay last year thank goodness.

My husband has been Santa several times over the years for various gatherings and was one of Santa's helpers on the Christmas float for quite a few years. His story has always been about the robin who keeps an eye on the children and will let Santa know if they've been naughty or nice. It worked on our GD when they were small.

The only rituals we have had is putting out the mince pie, milk and carrot for the reindeer. When I was a child I don't remember doing even that.

When I was a child Christmas Eve was exciting enough in itself, but then I was a small child during and just after the war. It didn’t need extras. Never known anyone give extra presents on Christmas Eve, or have new clothes. We would wear our nicest clothes, but I don’t remember anything new. My children put food and drink out for Father Christmas (NOT Santa). I can’t even remember what the food and drink was. I wonder if they can?

as a follow on from elf on the shelf there is the santa cam personally i think its horrible and creepy not nice at all

New pyjamas for brother and I after a bath using bath cubes a glass of milk and a guarantee that I'd throw-up in the night from excitement. Yes those were the days hahahaha. Why did I do that ??

I'm with the bah humbug crowd on this - just another money-making scheme and another step on the ever-increasing commercialisation of xmas. But then I detest the C- word anyway - never was a fan, even as a child. It always seemed like a big build-up to what always turned into a massive anticlimax...

I always used to let my DD open one present on Christmas Eve and one year I found a Christmas Eve box and put something in there for here to open. They have stolen my idea - my DD is now 48!

If the kids needed PJs they got them whenever.

well I'm the kinda mean mum who won't buy new school uniform until September, if its getting tatty in June they make do since its nearly summer anyway

Likewise if PJs are getting snug or tatty in October they can do until December

(And similarly to September school uniforms, new PJs at Christmas start off a bit on the baggy side )

As a child I always went to bed "clean" and fresh on Christmas eve: freshly changed sheet, a bubble bath & new PJs. I also had a new outfit every year for Christmas day right down to undies (and that would be my party dress for the year).

I loved that clean new christmas sleep feeling. I just cant do christmas eve sleep in even one day old sheets even now

OK I'm just going to put this out there quickly......Bah Humbug.

Well, its not becoming a "thing" in my flat.
I have enough to moan about already at this time of year, without adding to my list.

My Grandparents were Scottish. They worked on Christmas day.
It wasn't a "thing".

Neither I nor anyone I know has done this PJs on Christmas Eve thing. If the kids needed PJs they got them whenever. Advent calendars have got out of hand. Fine for one with a bit of chocolate behind each window but so many companies are selling booze, toiletries etc this way now. Having said that, my birthday is in early December and last year my DS bought me a Molton Brown advent box - 24 different items, all in individual boxes in a larger chest. A packaging nightmare but lovely goodies!

Christmas Eve present opening is a European thing nope. It is also the tradition right back to at least my grandparents time in regions of the UK. (They are from different regions BTW)

Well I join the line of grumpies Didn’t much like elf on the Shelf especially the rude ones that were around last year Christmas Eve present opening is a European thing we ve never done anything like pyjamas for Christmas Eve just putting your stocking or pillow case out mince pies and a glass of milk and a carrot by the front door I used to make some footprints out of flour or leave a bit of soil around the empty plate and crumbs on the plate
With my grandkids we ve followed the route on the computer that was quite exciting
Now they’re all teens and just want money for Christmas it’s boring

Maybe its a regional thing?
I have never heard of the idea before.

It does not involve mindlessly overspending on landfill.

What is it that you think the average Christmas eve box contains?

They are mostly made of wood and brought back out each year. Kids need new PJs anyway as they grow. Christmas books and DVDs can be packed away for next year and snacks and treats get eaten, what extra is going to landfill that wouldnt be bought around Christmas anyway

Sodapop I have Christmas lavatory paper !!

I have a Danish DIL and GD so when they are here we have Danish Christmas on Christmas Eve and English Christmas on 25th ????

From what I can gather places where Christmas Eve is a big celebration the focus is Church, home, family and special food.

Which is exactly the point of Christmas eve boxes, a cosy family night at home: pjs, Christmas books or movies to share, hot chocolates or other food. Thats it usually for most Christmas eve boxes

I hadn't heard of the boxes or elf either Annie I think most families with children have their Christmas Eve rituals, leaving food for Santa & Rudolph and new PJs etc.
I remember my grandson being over the moon one Christmas when I bought toilet paper with penguins on it. Really made his Christmas he had to show everyone who came to the house.

From what I can gather places where Christmas Eve is a big celebration the focus is Church, home, family and special food.

It does not involve mindlessly overspending on landfill.