Author Topic: Christmas Eve boxes  (Read 53499 times)

shelivesthedream

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Christmas Eve boxes
« on: November 27, 2017, 12:30:48 PM »

Shinplaster

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2017, 12:49:53 PM »
When we were kids, parents let us open one gift on Christmas eve.  We did the same with our son.  No way would we have bought extra gifts - the one opened was just one less to open on Christmas day.   

I love Christmas, but the orgy of gifts, Elf on the Shelf (hell no!), etc. is just too much.  Now they want you to buy a stupid tarted up grocery box for more stuff?  Not happening in our house.

gaja

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2017, 01:25:56 PM »
Great idea - this could really work for us! We all have everything we need, so buying gifts never really make sense. It was more stressful than fun. A box filled with chocolate, wine, some of the Lego sets we already own, some Christmas cartoons to read, and other stuff we could share as a family, would be a much better Christmas tradition for us. The kids loved the idea, partly because they would get to  build the box together with their dad.

I fully agree that as a pile of stuff in addition to other stuff, it is a crazy idea.

Modified to add: our main celebration is on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is for playing with (new) toys, reading, and eating leftovers.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2017, 01:28:50 PM by gaja »

Khaetra

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2017, 01:31:44 PM »
A box full of stuff before the tree with stuff under it?  No thanks, sort-of.  If it's something bought that the whole family could enjoy and share on Xmas Eve (a movie and hot chocolate for example), then I can see it.  But otherwise forget it.

okits

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2017, 01:34:12 PM »
This would be nice in lieu of Christmas presents.

Shinplaster

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2017, 01:45:44 PM »
This would be nice in lieu of Christmas presents.

Yes!  Not in addition to.

faithless

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2017, 12:34:26 AM »
When I first heard it, it was just wrapping a box containing new PJs for the kids and some snacks, to open & be worn & eaten to watch a Christmas film together before bed, on Christmas Eve. I thought it was quite sweet. Arguably wasteful if they didn't need new PJs I guess, but not ridiculous.

Laura33

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2017, 07:50:31 AM »
I've never heard of the whole "box" of gifts for Christmas Eve.

Our family tradition, going back 70 years, has always been to open one gift on Christmas Eve, selected by the giver from the gifts under the tree.  I am ashamed to admit that I was in my teens before I figured out that the box always contained PJs.  That way my grandma could make sure that the Christmas morning pictures always showed the kids in their nice, new PJs, instead of the ratty old ones.

Now we still do one Christmas Eve gift, but since I do not possess sufficient fucks to dedicate one to matching PJs, it tends to be just a small gift that they can enjoy that night, like a game or some candy.

shelivesthedream

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2017, 09:45:04 AM »
I just don't understand Christmas pyjamas. Does one wear them at times other than actual Christmas? If so, isn't it weird to be wearing reindeer in January? And why does one need a pair of pyjamas every single year? I have two pairs and they are both four or five years old and still going strong. I couldn't imagine the pyjama mountain I would end up with if I bought a new pair every single year!

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2017, 10:32:47 AM »
I just don't understand Christmas pyjamas. Does one wear them at times other than actual Christmas? If so, isn't it weird to be wearing reindeer in January? And why does one need a pair of pyjamas every single year? I have two pairs and they are both four or five years old and still going strong. I couldn't imagine the pyjama mountain I would end up with if I bought a new pair every single year!

Kids grow, I suppose, and they're a lot harder on their clothing than adults simply because they get on the floor, play, crawl around, and are more physically active. They also tend to wear the pyjamas more, particularly on weekends, and they're more likely to throw up or spill food on whatever they're wearing at the time.

I'm a red panda

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2017, 10:45:49 AM »
I just don't understand Christmas pyjamas. Does one wear them at times other than actual Christmas? If so, isn't it weird to be wearing reindeer in January? And why does one need a pair of pyjamas every single year? I have two pairs and they are both four or five years old and still going strong. I couldn't imagine the pyjama mountain I would end up with if I bought a new pair every single year!


I make christmas pajamas for the kid in the family.  They have never lasted to the next year without a new size needed.  They do wear them all through the winter.  For some of the parents I make matching ones, because they like family photos.  But those generally just  get worn once or twice.

Maenad

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2017, 11:01:00 AM »
I like the idea of a tradition of the family sitting around in comfy clothes/PJs, drinking cocoa/egg nog/wine/etc. and watching a favorite movie, but you don't need to buy that pre-packaged. Looks like someone decided to commoditize yet another fun family experience.

ElleFiji

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2017, 11:37:07 AM »
We always got a present to open Christmas eve - usually from one of the aunts or uncles overseas. And if parents were tipped off that a present was pyjamas or a soft toy, or one year a pillowcase, that was what we were directed towards.

We also always had nice treats Christmas eve - appetizers or a cheese tray, chocolates - exactly what would be based on how we did Christmas that year, not always expensive but sometimes. And there has always been a problem identifying which items have been bought for which of many holiday/entertaining/gifting events. So I could see if we had a Christmas eve box, then as we did bits of the shopping, we could put non perishables in the box.

Seeing how chaotic my nieces can get, I can see engaging them in filling up a Christmas eve box by choosing which board games to have ready to play, putting in pyjamas etc.

As an adult, if someone wants to hand me a box with pyjamas, booze and chocolate on my way home Christmas eve, I would be very happy to enjoy all of those items overnight.

BUT if this is in addition to, it's a crazy tradition.

Laura33

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2017, 12:41:34 PM »
I just don't understand Christmas pyjamas. Does one wear them at times other than actual Christmas? If so, isn't it weird to be wearing reindeer in January? And why does one need a pair of pyjamas every single year? I have two pairs and they are both four or five years old and still going strong. I couldn't imagine the pyjama mountain I would end up with if I bought a new pair every single year!

They weren't Christmas PJs -- they were just the new PJs for the year.  My Grandma was really big on tradition and doing things a certain way, and that way included pictures of beautiful children in perfect PJs, before said hellions had a chance to spill something or rip holes or otherwise destroy the cute little PJs that she had so carefully chosen for them.  I don't know if I was particularly hard on my clothes or not, but all I can say is that I don't ever remember having more than two sets of PJs in my drawer at once.  Now my mom does the same thing for my kids, and, yeah, they tend to need new PJs every year, either through growth or general destruction or both.  Now that I'm an adult, I tend to get PJs only every few years, because as you note, I don't need them that frequently; the other years, I get comfy soft things from the Jockey outlet that I can sleep in, hang out in, wear as an underlayer when it's cold out, etc. 

Honestly, I don't get why this would be objectionable, even on an MMM forum.  It is not a huge "extra" box of stuff, as in the link -- everyone gets the same number of presents we would otherwise get; it's just that one of those presents is PJs or something else that is appropriate for Christmas Eve.  And I really enjoy the tradition: we have our big dinner Christmas Eve, with turkey and wine and deliciousness; we play Christmas music; we prowl through the things under the tree saying things like, "oh, gee, I wonder what is in this rather soft, cushy oblong package, what could it possibly be?"; we make fun of my mom's re-use of the same boxes for the past 20+ years*; we drink wine and talk and have fun and all that.  PJs for Christmas Eve is just one of our silly family traditions that make the whole thing so much more fun than just "here's a pile of crap, go at it."

*There truly is nothing like presenting your small grandchild new PJs in a Victoria's Secret box (note the PJs were not from VS -- just the box). 

I'm a red panda

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2017, 12:48:18 PM »
I like the idea of a tradition of the family sitting around in comfy clothes/PJs, drinking cocoa/egg nog/wine/etc. and watching a favorite movie, but you don't need to buy that pre-packaged. Looks like someone decided to commoditize yet another fun family experience.

I didn't see it pre-packaged. The article just seemed to be complaining about the personalized box to sit it all in that you then have to store for the year.

Or maybe I missed another part about someone who sells premade boxes?

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #15 on: November 28, 2017, 12:59:36 PM »
I like the idea of a tradition of the family sitting around in comfy clothes/PJs, drinking cocoa/egg nog/wine/etc. and watching a favorite movie, but you don't need to buy that pre-packaged. Looks like someone decided to commoditize yet another fun family experience.

You're most likely right.

My parents created a great gift-opening tradition in which we'd take turns opening a gift. Everyone else watches to see their reaction. Some great pranks have been pulled: my kid brother is a sadistic evil genius when it comes to tape and layers of packaging and some gifts couldn't be opened without tools. He particularly enjoyed pranking my dad that way. After the gift was opened, the recipient would thank the giver and pick the gift for the next person to open. If there were an uneven number of gifts for whatever reason, a "family" gift would be opened by the next person in the cycle. Great for photos that way, and a way to max out enjoyment and entertainment without having an obscene number of gifts.

Shinplaster

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #16 on: November 28, 2017, 02:25:01 PM »

 we make fun of my mom's re-use of the same boxes for the past 20+ years*;

*There truly is nothing like presenting your small grandchild new PJs in a Victoria's Secret box (note the PJs were not from VS -- just the box).

Ha!  Thanks for the memory of our Christmases.   My Mom was the queen of saving and reusing boxes.  Every time we added a new member to the family, it was hilarious to see their faces when they saw the boxes, and then saw the gifts inside.  Mom made it a game as we got older to make the boxes as inappropriate as possible.  I got rid of my stash of boxes in a decluttering a year ago, but may have to save a few just to continue the tradition.   Mom is 88 now, and just uses gift bags for the few gifts she gives.  I think she misses using the boxes - I know I do.

PoutineLover

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #17 on: November 28, 2017, 02:30:09 PM »
I used to always get a new pair of pjs to open on Christmas eve. My mom asked me if I wanted some this year and I said no because I don't wear any of the pjs I already have except if I have to share a room with someone other than my partner. It's still a nice tradition, and I always enjoyed getting to open that one gift on Christmas eve even if I already knew what it would be.

eliza

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #18 on: November 30, 2017, 04:57:44 AM »
I actually *like* the idea of a Christmas Eve box, but not the ridiculous consumerist commercial version.  We aren't exchanging gifts with immediate family this year - we're all adults, we don't need anything. 

But, putting together a "box" for the family to share when we are sitting around together on Christmas eve would be kind of nice.  I'm thinking: a bottle of champagne, a bottle or two of wine, cheese and crackers, a board game (that we already own), a couple of Christmas DVDs (that we also already own), a pack of cards, and maybe a new ornament for my parent's tree to celebrate their recent move across the country.


Cranky

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2017, 05:34:54 AM »
We always got a Christmas Eve present, and my kids did too! As they got older, it was always "something to do", and sometimes it was actually the big family gift - one year it was whatever videogame system was hot that year, and we'd never had one before.

Dicey

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #20 on: November 30, 2017, 07:25:10 AM »
Now we still do one Christmas Eve gift, but since I do not possess sufficient fucks to dedicate one to matching PJs, it tends to be just a small gift that they can enjoy that night, like a game or some candy.
Laura33, I love reading your posts, but this one made me chortle. Chortle, I tell you! You have such a way with words! Thanks for the early morning laughter.

Laura33

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #21 on: November 30, 2017, 07:32:03 AM »
Now we still do one Christmas Eve gift, but since I do not possess sufficient fucks to dedicate one to matching PJs, it tends to be just a small gift that they can enjoy that night, like a game or some candy.
Laura33, I love reading your posts, but this one made me chortle. Chortle, I tell you! You have such a way with words! Thanks for the early morning laughter.

Happy to help.  Being an inveterate smartass appears to be my superpower, so it's nice to be able to use those powers for good on occasion. ;-) 

Chesleygirl

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #22 on: December 01, 2017, 11:24:59 AM »
I saw those Elf on the Shelfs being sold on amazon. $18.99 but it's just a tiny, cloth doll.

ambimammular

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #23 on: December 02, 2017, 10:46:38 AM »
Mom made it a game as we got older to make the boxes as inappropriate as possible. 

My mom worked at a nursing home. When we moved all of our boxes said "Depends." That's the way to make an impression on the neighbors.

wordnerd

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #24 on: December 02, 2017, 11:55:21 AM »
The most bothersome aspect of this is that the retailer of said boxes has a business built around painting the possessive version of a name on a box...and doesn't know how to do plural possessives. I find it particularly amusing that the example is "The Johnson's Xmas Box," which kinda sounds like a penis owns the box.

ToTheMoon

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #25 on: December 02, 2017, 12:25:57 PM »
I actually *like* the idea of a Christmas Eve box, but not the ridiculous consumerist commercial version.  We aren't exchanging gifts with immediate family this year - we're all adults, we don't need anything. 

But, putting together a "box" for the family to share when we are sitting around together on Christmas eve would be kind of nice.  I'm thinking: a bottle of champagne, a bottle or two of wine, cheese and crackers, a board game (that we already own), a couple of Christmas DVDs (that we also already own), a pack of cards, and maybe a new ornament for my parent's tree to celebrate their recent move across the country.

We started doing a Night Before Christmas Box with our kids and our niece/nephew that live locally.  Each box follows the "something you want, something you need, something to eat, and something to read."  This means they get a small gift from us, new pyjamas, a book, and a bedtime treat.  This is NOT in addition to a gift from us - this IS the gift from us.

My family did not do this growing up, but once DH and I had kids we decided to start a new family tradition and this is it.

@Eliza  I really like the idea of doing one for us for Christmas eve as well - booze, treats, and a pre-selected game and/or movie is a great idea!  These are all items we will have in the house anyhow - it is just more fun to package them up and make it part of the tradition.  Hmmm. . .

gaja

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #26 on: December 20, 2018, 01:06:22 PM »
Great idea - this could really work for us! We all have everything we need, so buying gifts never really make sense. It was more stressful than fun. A box filled with chocolate, wine, some of the Lego sets we already own, some Christmas cartoons to read, and other stuff we could share as a family, would be a much better Christmas tradition for us. The kids loved the idea, partly because they would get to  build the box together with their dad.

I fully agree that as a pile of stuff in addition to other stuff, it is a crazy idea.

Modified to add: our main celebration is on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is for playing with (new) toys, reading, and eating leftovers.

Thanks to this thread, we started a christmas box tradition last year. DH and our oldest daughter spent days building and painting the box, and we filled it with;
-new lego sets for the kids
-fuzzy socks
-candy and soda
-wine
-cartoons and books
-board games

This year we are celebrating with grandparents and cousins, and have added legos and fuzzy socks for the cousins in our christmas box. If the grandparents weren't present, we could probably leave it at that, but the older generation are the type who want a mountain of gifts under the tree. So DD1 and DD2 have wrapped a book for eachother, and we are bringing gifts for the grandparents.

chouchouu

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #27 on: December 21, 2018, 01:21:43 AM »
I'm sure this will take off in Australia soon. We have a history of adopting American gift giving opportunities that never existed before, baby showers, bridal showers, gift registries etc.

nnls

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #28 on: December 21, 2018, 02:20:50 AM »
My grandfather was German and we always did some Christmas eve (as is tradition in Germany) which included opening one present before heading to church. But it wasnt an additional present it was just usually the present from Grandad or maybe something from my mum.

I'm a red panda

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #29 on: December 21, 2018, 05:50:28 AM »
My grandfather was German and we always did some Christmas eve (as is tradition in Germany) which included opening one present before heading to church. But it wasnt an additional present it was just usually the present from Grandad or maybe something from my mum.

We always opened one present on Christmas Eve, something that was already under the tree. Nothing extra.

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #30 on: December 21, 2018, 08:33:52 AM »
I always got to open one present every hour on Christmas Eve, from usually 6pm until I fell asleep. They were existing presents though, not extra ones.

I do like the sound of a box of goodies for the family to share on Christmas Eve though :)

RetiredAt63

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #31 on: December 21, 2018, 11:24:04 AM »
Our one aunt gave us especially great gifts, so we always opened her gifts Christmas eve.  Stockings had the small and fun and practical gits, plus a mandarin orange at the very toe (mandarin oranges were special, they were only available for a few weeks around Christmas).  This gave us something to open and something to eat and meant we didn't wake our parents up super early.

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Christmas Eve boxes
« Reply #32 on: December 22, 2018, 04:50:22 AM »
Never heard of the Xmas eve box, but it sounds cute. Pyjamas and a board game to play Xmas eve night - what a great family tradition. I can just see everyone sitting around in new pjs playing a game together.