.Christmas eve boxes? Really ?

GrannyGravy13

kali2 my GC are from 23 months to twenty years.

The tradition started in our family by our Danish DiL, a little something from her country of birth.

So very different from the new 'expectation' of Christmas Eve boxes becoming the norm in most families- adding pressure, as Tusue said in the OP.

Totally agree Tusue.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-764828-b570f534-f62a-4e8f-9028-37a6b24c025f.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-67307-c3e3c841-0b3d-424f-9275-4b863c205aa1.jpeg

Well perhaps pyjamas might be worn- but this is the case with the vast majority of Christmas jumpers - so probably a significant of Christmas PJs- as many won't want them. And ll the packaging, etc
What sort of hot chocolate would be given as a present though?

FFS What a little ray of sunshine!
Children (most) love novelty pj’s Harry Potter, Reindeer, Spiderman , Lego or whatever.
As for “what sort of hot chocolate would be given as a present?”
Coming from someone who lives a stone’s throw from the home of Suchard chocolate ….really?
Might I suggest the following?

Kali2

GrannyGravy13

kali2 my GC are from 23 months to twenty years.

The tradition started in our family by our Danish DiL, a little something from her country of birth.

So very different from the new 'expectation' of Christmas Eve boxes becoming the norm in most families- adding pressure, as Tusue said in the OP.

Totally agree Tusue.

You think pyjamas, hot chocolate and a Christmas film/book is a pressure on parents?

For most it is a family evening snuggled on the sofa away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

A moment of calm before the big day (whether that involves church, family visits etc.) Why on earth would you begrudge families this together time

You think pyjamas, hot chocolate and a Christmas film/book is a pressure on parents?

For most it is a family evening snuggled on the sofa away from the stresses and strains of everyday life
A moment of calm before the big day (whether that involves church, family visits etc.) Why on earth would you begrudge families this together time

Thank you for a sane and positive post - a welcome antidote to some of the Bah! Humbug! around. (Dickens woukd be having a field day! ) ?

You can enjoy a peaceful Christmas Eve with your family without buying more gifts.
We used to have a lovely time without the need for buying. Presents on Christmas Day only.

You can enjoy Christmas in any way you like, as can other people. They wont do it in the same way as you do and that is fine.

we buy new pyjamas, a new mug for each child
we did it ONCE
and then they expected it every year and even as adults they now expect the same!

I try to remind myself how unloved I have felt for so much of my life and how they want to be with me (at the moment) at Christmas, so try not to let it get on my nerves

People can definitely go overboard, but there’s nothing wrong with making Christmas Eve special and cosy with a treat or a book, and doing fun things throughout December. There’ll always be some people who take it too far, but it’s a dark and cold time of year and it’s nice to celebrate.

Your love for them shines through Jane. Even amidst your irritation .

Well, when mine were little we had fish and chips for tea on Christmas Eve for a treat - well that was my excuse!!

AmberSpyglass

People can definitely go overboard, but there’s nothing wrong with making Christmas Eve special and cosy with a treat or a book, and doing fun things throughout December. There’ll always be some people who take it too far, but it’s a dark and cold time of year and it’s nice to celebrate.

Yes, that's why celebrations started in pagan times, presumably to cheer people up in the miserable cold dark winters.
Christianity thought it was a good idea so hijacked it.

Chocolate and pyjamas are a good idea and at least they're not plastic tat.

kittylester

Well, when mine were little we had fish and chips for tea on Christmas Eve for a treat - well that was my excuse!!

We either had Christmas gammon or half a salmon on Christmas Eve.

Then there was the mince pie and sherry for DH Father Christmas (although Mother Christmas had done all the present preparation) and a sprinkle of reindeer poo on the fireplace!

And reading The Night Before Christmas as they snuggled down in bed!

Farmor15

New pyjamas are fine, but if they're Christmas ones, they probably will only get worn a couple of times and just result in more unnecessary waste.

Just normal pyjamas in my family. So definitely not a problem. Never wasted. Once outgrown passed on to children who would wear them. Same as their day clothes, shoes and toys. My daughter does the same.

Galaxy

Your love for them shines through Jane. Even amidst your irritation .

they remind me regular that I am a rubbish Mum
they don't they are born !!
GITS

Obviously if you were a rubbish Mum they'd never say that!
?

I'm a rubbish Granny, other Granny is buying them pyjamas.
?

My d.I.l. does buy new PJs for her little family…

Calistemon I always read The night before Christmas to my two ad well. That was our Christmas Eve tradition,

It's still on the bookcase, silverlining and I've read it to the DGC as well

rafichagran

Cost not Costa.

rafichagran is Costa in your predictive text ?

DD1 does this - the PJs are now on their 3rd year of being boxed up. Probably fit DGD next year but DGS1 may not agree to have Elf pyjamas at 9 which are short in the leg and arm. Will be passed to DGS2 who will have Elf PJs for the next 5 years ?

We never did presents on Xmas Eve, but when the kids were very small we always trimmed up for Xmas when they were asleep. Under the tree we left a note from the elves - we hope you like the tree, you’ve been good all year so here’s a little present, keep being good and Santa will come at Xmas etc. the present was something small - a Xmas film or book. They loved it!!!
When they got a little older, one year the “elves” just left all the boxes of decorations in the middle of the lounge with a note saying they were old enough to trim up themselves now and that the elves were needed to help families with smaller children ?

I am not sure it is fair to blame us American's. I have never heard of a Christmas Eve box until this thread and had to Google it.

When I was a child, my parents would allow us to open one gift on Christmas Eve. It was not an extra gift, we would have one less on Christmas morning.

I started buying pajamas for my kids to open on Christmas Eve. There is no Christmas Eve box though, I use reusable gift bags which are put away each year.

As for the jammies themselves being a waste, I would always be sure to get a print that would my children would like year around. My oldest loves Christmas and has a tree up in her room the entire year, so she would love Christmas themed jammies. I would think that each family would know the children enough to know if Christmas themed jammies would be worn year around or not and buy appropriately so there is not waste.

All of my children's clothes are passed down through several neighbor kids as well since my kids are the oldest on our street. My neighbor laughs that she has not had to buy clothes for her kids in 8 years, she just waits for me to pass them down.

Totally agree OP, do children not get enough on Christmas Day? Consumerism gone mad and even more pressure on hard up, stressed out parents. It's a lot of nonsense.

I don’t think Christmas Eve boxes originated in the U.S. When I was a child my family always opened gifts on Christmas Eve. I’m not sure why we did that or how we thought the presents arrived there!