If you’ve got kids, then the phenomenon of Christmas Eve boxes will likely not be a new one to you. However, if you’re new to the parenting or grandparenting game, then this generation Alpha (yes, that’s how far along we are now) trend might have passed you by without so much as your ears pricking.
The general idea is that that Santa Clause, the big FC himself, leaves children an extra pre-Christmas gift on the 24th December to make sure they’ve got all their tiny affairs in order before he slips down the chimney with their annual haul of presents. They contain sundries of all sorts, from reindeer food to blank Santa letters for them to write, and are a relatively new gifting format here in the UK. Of course, as usual, across the pond it’s something families have been doing for a while now.
There are a handful ways to organise your Christmas Eve boxes so we’ve done a bit of research to take you through all your options this Christmas time…
What is a good Christmas Eve box idea?
For parents, grandparents and guardians with a bit more time on their hands:
If you’ve got some spare time, we’d recommend picking up your choice of empty Christmas Eve box (< click there to shop our selection), acquiring a small selection of gifts – perhaps a story book, some form of contact from Father Christmas (nice list certificate, a letter etc.), a little game, sweet treats and some Christmas pyjamas – and popping on one of your favourite Christmas movies to pack it all up before the 24th rolls around.
For parents, grandparents and guardians scrambling to organise a Christmas Eve box (same):
Good news, one and all, you can now buy pre-filled Christmas Eve boxes (< click there to shop our selection) from the likes of Etsy, Not On The High Street and even M&S, so you can spend less time browsing novelty gifts your little ones don’t already have and more time enjoying advent calendar chocolates and the fruits of any Christmas hampers you’ve received.
Keep scrolling for 20+ ideas for inexpensive gifts to fill your Christmas Eve boxes with (that will arrive in time for Xmas Eve), plus empty and filled gift boxes to buy.
Whether you’re opting for matching family pyjamas or a onesie to see your little ones through from Christmas morning through till bedtime, a pair of festive Christmas pyjamas to put on on Christmas Eve is a great way to get tiny tots and big kids into the holiday spirit before the big man comes down the chimney.
Be it a pair of tartan flannel – these M&S ones are bestsellers each year – or a more luxe pick like this Chelsea Peers holly wreath collection, there’s nothing like a pair of cosy jammies to brighten up your annual family photos come the crack of dawn on the 25th.
Food and sweet treats
A little hot chocolate stirrer, hot chocolate bomb or, as it’s more affectionately being called these days, a sachet of ‘snowman soup’, is an inexpensive and crowd pleasing addition to any kids’ Christmas Eve Box. And, of course, when it comes to small gifts for stocking fillers or Christmas Eve crates, it wouldn’t be complete without a peppermint candy cane. Plus, for creative children, decorating a gingerbread man could be a fun way to pass the Christmas Eve time while mum, dad and Auntie Sue brine the turkey in prep for the big day.
Christmas books
All great picks in their own right, a Christmas book is a strong choice for a Christmas Eve box filler, and we simply love the Axel Scheffler illustations in the Squirrel’s Snowman book. Equally, if your tiny tots and children have busy fingers, then the Peter Rabbit sticker activity book will be sure to be a hit, while Tom Fletcher’s sellout Christmasaurus book will divert attention away from their nervous excitement around Santa slipping down their chimneys later in the night.
Gifts, letters and paraphernalia from or for Father Christmas and his reindeer
One way – or several – to really amp up the Christmas magic? A personalised letter direct from the North Pole ought to do it. Addressed to your child with IRL confirmation that they were good this year with a nice certificate, this is becoming a super popular way to elevate the festive spirit in your childrens’ Christmas Eve boxes. Likewise, a magic key to swerve those inevitable questions around how exactly Mr. C makes his way down your chimney – why not tell your kids your simply leaving him a key to get into the house? And, naturally, some reindoor food for Rudolph and the seven other reindeer is only appropriate. Lastly, if your family haven’t sent off their Christmas lists earlier in December, writing them on Christmas Eve can be a lovely longterm Christmas tradition, and this John Lewis writing kit is a real festive treat – way better than the plain printer paper our parents handed us!
Whether its their first Christmas or you need to upgrade that old sock you’d been using when they were too young to know the difference, these stockings from My 1st Years and John Lewis are soft, both under £20 and will make great Christmas decorations on your fireplace or mantel come Christmas Eve night.
Toys and other keepsakes and gift ideas to fill your boxes
Finally, onto the remaining Christmas Eve box ideas to bulk out the rest of the space in your wooden box, we’ve pulled together a varied selection of fidget toys, board games, novelty gifts and crafts, not to mention some tree decorations and lunchbox accessories for them to use in Christmases to come.
For us? The water bottle with an option for personalisation is a thoughtful Christmas gift, be it for a Christmas Eve hamper or their Christmas morning stocking, while the alphabet baubles will be lovely for the whole family to pop onto the Christmas tree the night before Christmas day.
Empty Christmas Eve gift boxes
If you’re planning on a DIY Christmas Eve box with personalised gifts for each of your kids, then a good place to start, naturally, is the box itself. While lots of buyers opt for a wooden box to keep the Christmas Eve box tradition going for years to come, a cardboard box will be just effective and, luckily, you can still buy personalised Christmas Eve boxes in the more affordable cardboard iterations.
Plus, the main bonus of all of these Christmas Eve gift boxes? They’re pre-decorated, so you most certainly won’t be faffing with rolls of wrapping paper, or even Christmas cards on the ones addressed with your child’s name.
Pre-filled Christmas gift boxes for the 24th
If time doesn’t allow for collecting pairs of Christmas PJs, individual hot chocolate and marshmallow sachets and other festive goodies, then it’s likely that a pre-filled Christmas Eve box will suit your lifestyle better. We’ve curated a list of both dedicated filled Christmas Eve boxes as well as some more generic Christmas treat boxes (that could just as easily lend themselves to the Xmas Eve tradition), so there’s plenty to peruse – get stuck in!
Our pick of the bunch has got to be the HamperWell Xmas Eve box, with everything from a nice list certificate to brussel sprouts gift wrapped milk chocolate and a luxury hot chocolate, it’s got a great mix of everything for less than £30. Elsewhere, the Alphabet Bespoke Creations Christmas Eve gift bag is a bit of an extra special treat, with a handmade magic key for Santa to deliver all his Christmas goodies safe and sound.
After more Christmas content? Check out our guide to the best kids Christmas gifts, Christmas gifts for women and Christmas gifts for dads.
For more from GLAMOUR UK Commerce Writer Lucy Smith, follow her on Instagram @luceeeeesmith.
