Are you thinking of treating your children to a Christmas Eve Box but feeling undecided?

Christmas Eve Boxes have attracted a lot of attention in recent years; not all of it positive, either. Some feel that they’re taking the concept of traditional Christmas gift giving too far and that giving your little one a Christmas Eve Box is ‘spoiling’ them – obviously it’s a case of each to their own, and I disagree personally with the notion that it’s a bad thing to treat the kids on Christmas Eve!

It should be pointed out that there are also many very positive aspects when it comes to Christmas Eve Boxes. What is so bad about extending the excitement to Christmas Eve? In fact, in many European countries, gift exchanges are often held on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Morning, so in our eyes it’s a little bit of a nod to older traditions in extension to the typical Christmas Morning exchange that most of us are used to.

A little bit of extra magic on Christmas Eve is never a bad thing, right? Imagine… The Christmas tree is twinkling, you’ve each got a steaming mug of hot chocolate and you’re sat in cosy pyjamas. Your favourite Christmas films are playing on the TV, and you present the little ones with their surprise Christmas Eve Boxes, making everyone feel even more festive and excited!

Some great ideas to put in a Christmas Eve Box were sent in by our community…

• ‘Reindeer food’
• Craft activities
• Christmas books
• Hot chocolate
• Christmas Pyjamas
• Cookies
• Stocking fillers

All of these are inexpensive and could help you to create a special family Christmas Eve tradition. This year, we’ve got one for our son Max who is 3. I didn’t see the point in previous years but now I know he’ll get a lot of joy from one!

We did a vote over in our private group to see just how many of our parents are for and against Christmas Eve Boxes…

The results:

Yay: 86%

Nay: 14%

The results were unanimously for Christmas Eve Boxes!

We think that, similar to the introduction of the Christmas Tree in the Victorian era (thanks, Prince Albert!), the introduction of the Christmas Stocking, the gradual tradition of Turkey being a Christmas classic, as well as all the other quintessential festive essentials, the Christmas Eve Box is just a modern day addition that will one day be just as commonplace as the rest.

Whichever way you decide to go, not having a Christmas Eve Box is not going to make Christmas any less special, and you don’t need to spend the extra cash if you really don’t want to – don’t feel guilty! But, at the same time, it isn’t going to do any harm to get one if you choose to.

Love from Katie & Team BBY. Xx