{"id":5240,"date":"2018-11-18T20:35:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-18T20:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/?p=5240"},"modified":"2023-12-22T11:54:40","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T11:54:40","slug":"christmas-eve-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/christmas-eve-box\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Eve Box &#8211; our &#8216;new&#8217; tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some people love a Christmas Eve box and think it&#8217;s a nice gentle way to start off the Christmas celebrations, others question why children need more &#8216;stuff&#8217; the day before the Big Day and say it&#8217;s not a &#8216;tradition&#8217;.<\/p>\n<h2>Traditions always start somewhere<\/h2>\n<p>I started doing a Christmas Eve box for the children a few years ago. I&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<h2>The Christmas Eve box<\/h2>\n<p>You can go the whole hog with an expensive wooden, personalised one.\u00a0However,\u00a0it really doesn&#8217;t have to be costly. Hobby Craft has some inexpensive DIY ones and even has a blog showing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobbycraft.co.uk\/ideas\/gifting\/14-cute-christmas-eve-box-ideas\">14 ideas for Christmas Eve Boxes.<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5250\" style=\"width: 271px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5250\" class=\"wp-image-5250\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/normal_personalised-bear-family-christmas-eve-box-300x300.jpg?resize=261%2C261\" alt=\"Christmas Eve box\" width=\"261\" height=\"261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/normal_personalised-bear-family-christmas-eve-box.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/normal_personalised-bear-family-christmas-eve-box.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/normal_personalised-bear-family-christmas-eve-box.jpg?w=350&amp;ssl=1 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5250\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Personalised Bear Family Christmas Eve Box \u00a355 Not on the High Street<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_5249\" style=\"width: 199px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5249\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5249\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3695-189x300.jpg?resize=189%2C300\" alt=\"Christmas Eve box\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3695.jpg?resize=189%2C300&amp;ssl=1 189w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3695.jpg?resize=768%2C1222&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3695.jpg?resize=671%2C1068&amp;ssl=1 671w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3695.jpg?w=1404&amp;ssl=1 1404w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3695.jpg?w=2106&amp;ssl=1 2106w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5249\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ideas at Hobby Craft<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_5254\" style=\"width: 357px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5254\" class=\" wp-image-5254\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3693-300x141.jpg?resize=347%2C163\" alt=\"Christmas Eve box\" width=\"347\" height=\"163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3693.jpg?resize=300%2C141&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3693.jpg?resize=768%2C362&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3693.jpg?resize=1068%2C503&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3693.jpg?w=1404&amp;ssl=1 1404w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3693.jpg?w=2106&amp;ssl=1 2106w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5254\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ideas at Hobby Craft<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I keep it even simpler and cheaper with a non-Christmas chest, which I then use for toy storage afterwards.\u00a0TX Maxx usually has a good selection of generic chests for under \u00a310 and has been my port of call in the past.\u00a0Last year we were lucky enough to receive a Fortnum &amp; Mason hamper, so we emptied that and used it for the Christmas Eve box. I&#8217;ll be re-using it this year too &#8211; so no cost!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5277 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/B01M1JMJWD_L1-300x180.jpg?resize=300%2C180\" alt=\"Christmas eve box\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/B01M1JMJWD_L1.jpg?resize=300%2C180&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/B01M1JMJWD_L1.jpg?w=479&amp;ssl=1 479w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On an aside, for Christmas presents from Santa, I absolutely love the stamps from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.athena-stamps.co.uk\/with-love-from-santa-self-inking-stamp-46-x16-mm?search=love%20santa\">Athena Stamps<\/a>. They make the job a lot quicker and children can&#8217;t catch you out on the handwriting matching mum or dad&#8217;s!<\/p>\n<h2>What we put in our Christmas Eve box<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_5257\" style=\"width: 305px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5257\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5257\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737-295x300.jpg?resize=295%2C300\" alt=\"Christmas Eve box\" width=\"295\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737.jpg?resize=295%2C300&amp;ssl=1 295w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737.jpg?resize=768%2C782&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737.jpg?resize=1049%2C1068&amp;ssl=1 1049w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737.jpg?w=1404&amp;ssl=1 1404w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737.jpg?w=2106&amp;ssl=1 2106w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5257\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our non-Christmasy Christmas Eve boxes<\/p><\/div>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5256\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_1264-300x204.jpg?resize=353%2C240\" alt=\"\" width=\"353\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_1264.jpg?resize=300%2C204&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_1264.jpg?resize=768%2C521&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_1264.jpg?resize=1068%2C725&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_1264.jpg?w=1404&amp;ssl=1 1404w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_1264.jpg?w=2106&amp;ssl=1 2106w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A &#8216;party&#8217; dress each for them to wear on Christmas day. It&#8217;s a present but something I&#8217;d buy in any case. They can also wear on New Year&#8217;s Eve and to any parties from then until Spring!<\/li>\n<li>A Christmas DVD &#8211; Past ones have included Elf, The BFG and Home Alone<\/li>\n<li>Chocolate selection boxes<\/li>\n<li>A 1000 piece jigsaw &#8211; It gets started on Christmas Eve and is continued throughout the festive season. Great for a bit of quiet time activity during the holiday<\/li>\n<li>Hot chocolate<\/li>\n<li>Some new <a href=\"https:\/\/tidd.ly\/48qHV4T\">cosy PJs\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And now for the the other Christmas tradition: the Advent calendar&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>Other Christmasy posts<\/h2>\n<h6><a title=\"Christmas Movies, for the Kids and for me!\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/my-christmas-movies-for-the-kids-and-for-me\/\">Christmas Movies, for the Kids and for me!<\/a><\/h6>\n<h6><a title=\"How do you do Father Christmas?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/how-do-you-do-father-christmas\/\">How do you do Father Christmas?<\/a><\/h6>\n<h6><a title=\"Christmas Bits and Bobs\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/christmas-bits-and-bobs\/\">Christmas Bits and Bobs<\/a><\/h6>\n<p><!-- START ADVERTISER: CraftStash from awin.com --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?s=2171867&amp;v=7803&amp;q=312059&amp;r=175921\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cshow.php?s=2171867&amp;v=7803&amp;q=312059&amp;r=175921\" alt=\"Christmas Eve Box\" width=\"320\" height=\"100\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- END ADVERTISER: CraftStash from awin.com --><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some people love a Christmas Eve box and think it&#8217;s a nice gentle way to start off the Christmas celebrations, others question why children need more &#8216;stuff&#8217; the day before the Big Day and say it&#8217;s not a &#8216;tradition&#8217;. Traditions always start somewhere I started doing a Christmas Eve box for the children a few<\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/christmas-eve-box\/\" title=\"Read More\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[939,941,936,940,938,937,942],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_3737.jpg?fit=2970%2C3024&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3ej6a-1mw","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5240"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5240"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9458,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5240\/revisions\/9458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}