Some people love a Christmas Eve box and think it’s a nice gentle way to start off the Christmas celebrations, others question why children need more ‘stuff’ the day before the Big Day and say it’s not a ‘tradition’.
Traditions always start somewhere
I started doing a Christmas Eve box for the children a few years ago. I’m not sure what prompted it. I have never been tempted with Elf on the Shelf, which seems a bit too much like hard work and I think can be more about the parents than the kids. However, there is something about a Christmas Eve box, with a few simple family-orientated bits and bobs that appeals.
The Christmas Eve box
You can go the whole hog with an expensive wooden, personalised one. However, it really doesn’t have to be costly. Hobby Craft has some inexpensive DIY ones and even has a blog showing 14 ideas for Christmas Eve Boxes.
Personalised Bear Family Christmas Eve Box £55 Not on the High Street
Ideas at Hobby Craft
Ideas at Hobby Craft
I keep it even simpler and cheaper with a non-Christmas chest, which I then use for toy storage afterwards. TX Maxx usually has a good selection of generic chests for under £10 and has been my port of call in the past. Last year we were lucky enough to receive a Fortnum & Mason hamper, so we emptied that and used it for the Christmas Eve box. I’ll be re-using it this year too – so no cost!
On an aside, for Christmas presents from Santa, I absolutely love the stamps from Athena Stamps. They make the job a lot quicker and children can’t catch you out on the handwriting matching mum or dad’s!
What we put in our Christmas Eve box
Our non-Christmasy Christmas Eve boxes
- A ‘party’ dress each for them to wear on Christmas day. It’s a present but something I’d buy in any case. They can also wear on New Year’s Eve and to any parties from then until Spring!
- A Christmas DVD – Past ones have included Elf, The BFG and Home Alone
- Chocolate selection boxes
- A 1000 piece jigsaw – It gets started on Christmas Eve and is continued throughout the festive season. Great for a bit of quiet time activity during the holiday
- Hot chocolate
- Some new cosy PJs
And now for the the other Christmas tradition: the Advent calendar…
