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| The curious case of the Christmas Eve box | The curious case of the Christmas Eve box |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A carrot for Rudolph and a mince pie for Father Christmas are traditions that most British families associate with 24 December. But as so-called Christmas Eve boxes gain popularity, do they add to the festive joy or simply pile on pressure for parents? | A carrot for Rudolph and a mince pie for Father Christmas are traditions that most British families associate with 24 December. But as so-called Christmas Eve boxes gain popularity, do they add to the festive joy or simply pile on pressure for parents? |
| Christmas Eve boxes are typically given to young children as a way to break up the anticipation of the next day with some small gifts and activities. | Christmas Eve boxes are typically given to young children as a way to break up the anticipation of the next day with some small gifts and activities. |
| "It's been part of our Christmas routine for three years," said Nikki Francis, a mother-of-two from Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. "If I'm honest I'll make a Christmas Eve box forever." | "It's been part of our Christmas routine for three years," said Nikki Francis, a mother-of-two from Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. "If I'm honest I'll make a Christmas Eve box forever." |
| They can be as simple as a cardboard box or as elaborate as an engraved wooden chest, filled with sweets, pyjamas, films, books and games. | They can be as simple as a cardboard box or as elaborate as an engraved wooden chest, filled with sweets, pyjamas, films, books and games. |
| But many parents are oblivious to the Christmas Eve box - while others understandably feel that a box adds to the stress and workload of keeping children entertained over the Christmas holiday. | But many parents are oblivious to the Christmas Eve box - while others understandably feel that a box adds to the stress and workload of keeping children entertained over the Christmas holiday. |
| Mrs Francis, a teaching assistant, gives seven-year-old Olivia and three-year-old Isaac a box of matching pyjamas, hot chocolate and festive films to get them ready for bed. | Mrs Francis, a teaching assistant, gives seven-year-old Olivia and three-year-old Isaac a box of matching pyjamas, hot chocolate and festive films to get them ready for bed. |
| "Lots of parents have the same idea," she said. "Everyone's at home, the shops are shut and the children are waiting for Christmas to begin." | "Lots of parents have the same idea," she said. "Everyone's at home, the shops are shut and the children are waiting for Christmas to begin." |
| She admits that it "piles pressure" on families on tight budgets or those who feel Christmas customs are getting out of control. | She admits that it "piles pressure" on families on tight budgets or those who feel Christmas customs are getting out of control. |
| "Some of my friends just don't get it," she said. | "Some of my friends just don't get it," she said. |
| The elf on a shelf is another Christmas craze which she says can "tip the balance from cute to bonkers". | The elf on a shelf is another Christmas craze which she says can "tip the balance from cute to bonkers". |
| 'Sell-out' boxes | 'Sell-out' boxes |
| Families are now sharing ideas for Christmas Eve boxes on Pinterest, with posts from parents in the US and Canada as well as in the UK. | Families are now sharing ideas for Christmas Eve boxes on Pinterest, with posts from parents in the US and Canada as well as in the UK. |
| Google says the number of people in the UK searching for Christmas Eve boxes on its shopping tab reached its highest ever-point between 13 and 19 November 2016. | Google says the number of people in the UK searching for Christmas Eve boxes on its shopping tab reached its highest ever-point between 13 and 19 November 2016. |
| While it doesn't release overall figures, Google said search volumes were triple that of 2014. | While it doesn't release overall figures, Google said search volumes were triple that of 2014. |
| Retailer Matalan's new line of 10,000 empty Christmas Eve boxes sold out by December, while online retailer Notonthehighstreet said sales of its Christmas Eve boxes had increased by 364% since last year and were in their "thousands". | Retailer Matalan's new line of 10,000 empty Christmas Eve boxes sold out by December, while online retailer Notonthehighstreet said sales of its Christmas Eve boxes had increased by 364% since last year and were in their "thousands". |
| Things commonly found in Christmas Eve boxes | Things commonly found in Christmas Eve boxes |
| Consumer expert Prof Vince Mitchell said we cannot pin down when Christmas Eve boxes began - but that it was a festive tradition that had been "waiting to happen". | Consumer expert Prof Vince Mitchell said we cannot pin down when Christmas Eve boxes began - but that it was a festive tradition that had been "waiting to happen". |
| "There's no pretence this is an ancient tradition" although we do already share a Christmas Eve "lull" when children anxiously wait for the next day, he said. | "There's no pretence this is an ancient tradition" although we do already share a Christmas Eve "lull" when children anxiously wait for the next day, he said. |
| "It's not a day we prepare well for. Boxes solve that problem at a click of a button." | "It's not a day we prepare well for. Boxes solve that problem at a click of a button." |
| Prof Mitchell suggested parents are also influenced by gift-giving elsewhere in Europe, where children from many countries receive their presents on 24 December. | Prof Mitchell suggested parents are also influenced by gift-giving elsewhere in Europe, where children from many countries receive their presents on 24 December. |
| But in the UK, Christmas Eve boxes are fast becoming a "clever retail invention", Prof Mitchell said. | |
| "They heighten the anticipation of the following day, which is key to children's Christmas experience," he said. | "They heighten the anticipation of the following day, which is key to children's Christmas experience," he said. |
| Middle-class families "who have everything" and families who save up for Christmas are those most likely to buy a box, he added. | Middle-class families "who have everything" and families who save up for Christmas are those most likely to buy a box, he added. |
| "This isn't a fad," Prof Mitchell said. "The Christmas Eve box will develop in terms of what they contain and we'll see a variation in prices from £10 to £100." | "This isn't a fad," Prof Mitchell said. "The Christmas Eve box will develop in terms of what they contain and we'll see a variation in prices from £10 to £100." |
| Buy or build? | Buy or build? |
| Wooden boxes engraved with a child's name and ready-filled versions are available online for around £20 to £40. | Wooden boxes engraved with a child's name and ready-filled versions are available online for around £20 to £40. |
| But Jenny Southern, a craft-maker from Southport, said it was easy to make a personalised Christmas Eve box that is not just like "another toy". | But Jenny Southern, a craft-maker from Southport, said it was easy to make a personalised Christmas Eve box that is not just like "another toy". |
| "I make a lot of gifts anyway and have always done a box for my seven-year-old," she said. | "I make a lot of gifts anyway and have always done a box for my seven-year-old," she said. |
| She suggests writing a child a letter from Santa telling them that they have made it onto the "nice" list. | She suggests writing a child a letter from Santa telling them that they have made it onto the "nice" list. |
| Another idea is to include a door hanger with a bell and ribbon on it, which the child writes their name on. | Another idea is to include a door hanger with a bell and ribbon on it, which the child writes their name on. |
| "Include an activity - it keeps children busy, so parents have some time to prepare the turkey," Ms Southern said. | "Include an activity - it keeps children busy, so parents have some time to prepare the turkey," Ms Southern said. |