.Christmas eve boxes? Really ?

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

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 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! ) ?

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

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?

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.

Parsley3

Children’s pyjamas and hot chocolate being described as
consumerism 'à outrance'.
? Now that is unnecessary.

As said, my comment came just after reading the thread about the environment, and 'doing everything we can to cut our carbon footprint' - it just didn't make sense to me.

If we are trying to cut down, adding yet another day, plucked out of nowhere, to buy more presents (probably made on the other side of the world in Bangladesh) doesnt' seem like the best way to go about it. Just more pressure on parents, who often get into debt over Christmas ...

Let's cut down- not push up- seems to me the way to go.

I wear socks with reindeers on and not just at Christmas!

Someone commented about the socks I was wearing last week. They were Christmas ones and this friend thought I was wearing them ready for Christmas - little does she know I wear them all year round! I love quirky brightly coloured socks so have a drawer full and usually just grab a random pair in the morning.

If someone bought me Christmas pyjamas, I would wear them all year round as well.

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.

Most children I know wear pjs year round. Even Christmas patterned ones.

My friends Daughter starts Christmas on December 1st , her boys have a Christmas treat every day until the 25th when the wake to a mountain of presents, todays treat was a trip to winter wonderland and she is travelling down to Harry potter land with them in a weeks time. In November she bins last years gifts, many are unused, i have offered to take the toys to the charity shop or the toy bank but she won't allow it. It really has become a farce.

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.

A storm in a hot chocolate mug Kali2
My children /grandchildren often had pyjamas as part of their presents, but on Christmas day. So I can't see the problem with giving them on Christmas eve. All it means is children go to bed in their new pj's on Christmas eve, instead of Christmas day.

Knock on the door of course, then run/driver away lol

In most if not all of Europe the main day is the 24 th December when the tree is first lit and gifts are exchanged. I think fish or goose is usually eaten and the 25 th is pretty much like our Boxing Day I suppose.
I hadn’t heard of Christmas Eve boxes until recently, think I read about it on gransnet last year.