Christmas Eve Boxes

Elfs are male! I'm surprised at the level of ignorance re elfs and pixies.

...and don't even get me started on the subject of fairies.

Ah ha!

Rubbish! Of course there are female & male & other choices in elfs, pixies, fairies etc etc.

You ever seen a male fairy FarNorth?

other choices

as in 'other genders are available'

tsk tsk Lara, Tsk. Tsk.

When Elsa met the elf.....

Mentioned them to DD this afternoon, tongue in cheek of course.
She growled, really, the dog headed under the table.
We have had, Belgian St Nicolaas,(marbles and one of those polystyrene Aeroplanes from me) then we have Brazilian Christmas Eve, then Christmas day, then Belgian New Year more pressies.
Elf on the Shelf would be for DD here, and still no idea when SIL will get home from work on Christmas Eve, 2.00am Christmas Day last year, then start again at 6.00am on St Stephens' Day.
Bah humbug would sum DD up at the moment, luckily I am doing all the cooking.

Some of the cards I bought this year depict Santa being picked up by a life-boat - and the presents have been safely rescued too, thank goodness. The reindeer meanwhile make their merry way pulling the sleigh through the sky without noticing he's fallen out.

Presumably Santa was so drunk that he fell out of the sleigh before he'd finished delivering to all the excited little children

You got it, Anya!

Yes, perhaps the traditional glass of sherry for Santa should be replaced by a glass of water!

I do know people who used to leave Santa a glass of milk

I've heard mixing your drinks is bad...

My daughters have always done a Christmas eve box. It contains new pjs , the book The Night Before Christmas, hot chocolate sachets and a favourite Christmas DVD.

The box is recycled year on year and the kids love it. I don't think its spoiling or over indulging them in any way. Just a way of spreading the Christmas magic. A family tradition.

I think it can be as difficult or complicated or simple and easy as you like.

We all have Elves too. Our elf is called Stan !!

The kids ( and my daughters have a high old time with them and again , they don't seem particularly stressed about it. Our elf is currently on a round the world trip and pops up on FB every morning in a new country's landmark. he's looking for a new family

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38220870

I'm just wondering where this started?

Tradition or a "clever retail invention"

www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/lily-allen-joins-elf-on-the-shelf-craze/28393.html

By the look of that elf, I'd be sending him off on a round-the-world trip too to look for a new family

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-27788-img-1039.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-901705-img-1040.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-312307-img-1041.jpg

Jalima we've had the pleasure of Stans company for about 5 years and it seemed time for him to move on. In fact he spent last festive season on holiday in Florida !!

My girls have done the Christmas Eve box for 10 years I think .

My eldest daughter also puts new bedding on her kids bed after they have fallen asleep on Christmas Eve ! The kids never stir ? .. it's their elfs parting gift .

I've always given my children a SMALL present on Christmas Eve, it calmed them down before the BIG day! I don't think they do the same with the grandchildren.

I must have been living in a parallel universe

A ritual of leaving out a drink and a mince pie for Santa, a carrot for Rudolph, a milky drink and a story - and always a new dress or outfit for Christmas Day.

He looks like Flat Stanley dressed up for Christmas - he likes globe-trotting too

LumpyspacePrincess - I've got Polar Express and one about a dog (can't remember its name), so they have one each. They're only £3 each so pretty cheap.

I didn't know about the boxes, but I think they're a great idea. I had bought the DVD of The BFG, his mother has bought him new PJs and I bought a recordable version of The night before Christmas, so my grandson can go on listening to me reading it when they've gone home. I just need a box now.

Speaking of family Christmas customs, when I was a child we had Fairy Goody Two shoes, who came on New Years Eve and left small gifts in our shoes left behind the front door. Gifts included things for school, like new pencils, colours, a rubber, etc a tangerine and some chocolate. I always assumed it was a common practice, but few people I speak to have heard of it. Anyone have this as a child?

I've been listening to Radio Scotland this morning. They've picked up the 4 gift rule that's been on the media for the past couple of days. I think it's a great principle to follow - much to the disgust of my childminded children!
Christmas is just so much pressure!
I like to have fun but a couple of years ago we started cutting back a bit and now some of the adults make gifts for each other. Last year my daughter-in-law made beautiful framed pictures for each family with the names of the family members picked out in Scrabble letters a bit like a crossword. It was great

DiL has always done this, PJs dvd & nibbles. I used to give mine a bathbomb from Lush for their evening bath ( I bought the ones intended to help you sleep).

My grandchildren have an elf on a shelf who disappears on Christmas Eve. He leaves them a box with new pyjamas to wear on Christmas Eve. A DVD to watch and a few chocolates!! Plus a note to say go to sleep!! They love it!! No presents of course.