.Christmas eve boxes? Really ?

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.

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

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.

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

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!!! ??????

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--

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.

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!

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.

??

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

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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

My mother was German on Christmas eve German presents were opened and English presents on Christmas day, best of both worlds!

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.

We used to have a bath on the evening of Christmas Eve and then downstairs sat in front of a roaring electric fire. We would have a milky coffee and watch TV before going to bed. Santa always knew hat my presents went on the end of the sofa and my sisters had an armchair each for their presents.
I think that everyone gets more than enough without getting Xmas Eve boxes. I would just put a DVD on and make hot chocolate, it doesn’t have to be a gift.

The commercial pressure for people to spend has always been there and anyone who comes up with a new 'occasion' for people to spend on will make money out of it.

I remember when my daughter was a baby in 1990 someone came up with the idea of 'grandparents day'! For our family it happened to be on my MiL's birthday and as DD was her first GC she seemed to think it had been invented especially for her! We only recognised it for a couple of years as it never caught on! At the time we also sent a card to my mum but my brother told her "You needn't expect anything from us!" I'm sure we'd have ignored it if it hadn't fallen on MiL's birthday the first time and she actually made a big thing about telling us!

These new unnecessary opportunities to spend only take off if people are willing to support them. I feel so sorry for people who are struggling to afford any sort of Christmas celebration this year. Seeing the indulgencies of those taking on yet more new 'traditions' must really add to their misery!

I'm sure those who worry about sustaining the economy will wholeheartedly approve, but those of us with concerns for the environment just sigh at the wastefulness and consumerism.

I too probably sound like the Grinch. Donning hard hat and taking shelter behind the sofa!

It brings pleasure to those that do it and has no effect on anyone else.

I don’t understand why people are so negative about what others do. Should we not buy a house, car or go on holiday because some cannot afford to.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-565832-d64bfe67-18ab-4791-83f8-31633b7282d2.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-901026-34349e4b-00f5-453a-9be4-3c2245dc8f6d.jpeg

Mamma7

Ps - at the risk of causing further upset ? we also do Elf on Shelf with our GC - he cost £3 and his antics cause a LOT of laughter in our house. We also put little choccy Christmas treats (Aldi £1) in wooden advent calendar (30years old) it’s a bit of effort but worth it to see so much happiness. Each to their own!

Youngest GC have got elf on the shelf along with the GC who are currently staying with us.

Never did it. One year we did get a new dvd for ds to watch on Christmas eve but then the grandparents came round so we watched it weeks later!!

I just think it’s absolute nonsense. More consumerism. I’ve never done it and I don’t ever intend to start. Folk have enough to worry about in finding money for Christmas gifts on Christmas Day without this added expense.

Ps - at the risk of causing further upset ? we also do Elf on Shelf with our GC - he cost £3 and his antics cause a LOT of laughter in our house. We also put little choccy Christmas treats (Aldi £1) in wooden advent calendar (30years old) it’s a bit of effort but worth it to see so much happiness. Each to their own!