Christmas Eve Box
Christmas Eve Boxes are becoming an increasingly popular tradition. It’s a nice way to kick off the festive season, or to keep little ones occupied on Christmas Eve and share in some family fun. There are many ways to tailor the tradition to suit your family, and all ages and budgets – of course it’s lovely to include new pyjamas, DVDs and some presents but they can also be put together without spending too much!
When & How?
You don’t have to stick to Christmas Eve, many people celebrate the start of the festive season with goodies that can be used throughout December. If you prefer to keep it specially for Christmas Eve, you could open it in the morning and spread out activities throughout the day, or could save it for the evening and fill with cosy treats. Whatever you decide, you can make a fun tradition out of giving the box. Here are a few suggestions:
🎁 Delivered by your Elf on the Shelf when they first arrive, or left by your Elf as a parting gift.
🎁 Left under the tree to find as a surprise.
🎁 Hidden with a few clues to hunt down and find.
🎁 A family member knocks on the door or rings a bell then hides!
🎁 A special visit from a dressed up Santa/Elf (depending on Covid guidelines at the time of course).
The Box
The ‘box’ can be something as simple as a special gift bag, drawstring bag or a shoe box with festive wrapping. A range of inexpensive boxes can be found at supermarkets and bargain shops, or you can reuse a tin or carboard box wrapped in paper. You might like for each family member to have their own box, or to have one large family box/crate.
The Contents
You can keep it simple with a few small toys, games and treats. Things that keep the kids busy and that bring the family together are favourites. There’s no need to renew everything each year, there may be some things that can be used again and form part of your tradition and memories.
Christmas-themed ideas
🎅 mince pie & milk for Santa
🎅 carrot for reindeer
🎅 reindeer dust & torch (to help spread the dust outside)
🎅 stockings to hang up
🎅 new bauble for the tree / other decoration
🎅 Believe bell (like Polar Express) or jingly bells
🎅 a magic key for Santa
🎅 a letter from Santa
🎅 elf report card
🎅 stationary to write ‘thank you notes’
Entertainment
🎨 craft activities / colouring book / puzzle book / stickers
🎨 supplies to make a Christmas decoration
🎨 Christmas-themed book & DVD
🎨 family board game / activities (snap, Twister, Pictionary, Wii games etc)
🎨 small Lego set
🎨 small toys / cuddly toy / joke toys (whoopee cushion?!)
🎨 Christmas figures (e.g. Happyland set)
🎨 wooden/plastic Christmas dinner set
🎨 bath bomb / bath toy
Food & Drink
☕ hot chocolate in Christmas-themed mug
☕ snowman soup (hot chocolate, marshmallows & candy cane to stir)
☕ chocolate coins (coin hunt optional!)
☕ ingredients to make cakes/cookies (or pre-made mix), cookie cutters
☕ cookie / gingerbread man / Christmas-themed chocs / favourite sweets
☕ popcorn for movie
Clothing
👕 fluffy or Christmas-themed socks
👕 slippers
👕 pyjamas
👕 Christmas jumper
👕 Christmas day outfit
Don’t forget to treat yourself to a ‘grown-ups’ box!!
🥳 mince pies, favourite foods & treats, alcohol!
🥳 Christmas pyjamas / jumper / clothes
🥳 bath bomb / pamper products
🥳 DVD
🥳 Christmas playlist (for wrapping presents!)
Keeping costs down
Above all, don’t forget these boxes don’t have to cost much as at all. If you’re on a tight budget (it’s an expensive time of year!) here are some ideas –
👍🏼 Pick up DVD’s from charity shops or second hand technology shops, or you could even add a ‘token’ for family film time and let the kids pick a film you already have.
👍🏼Think about adding the ingredients or tools for baking at home – maybe they need to guess what they are making using clues or set up treasure hunts to find the instructions.
👍🏼You could use napkins to or wrapping paper to make decorations/paper chains or use them as table decorations (bonus!)
These kinds of traditions are all about bringing people together and creating a little more magic so they don’t need to be full of new toys or extra present – as if Santa has got time for that on Christmas Eve!
If you want some more ideas, head over to our chat groups to join the conversation!
