I started a Christmas Eve Box for my daughter’s second Christmas and I’ve kept up the tradition now for both of my girls. But you may ask what can I put in a Christmas Eve Box? Well, here in this post I’ve come up with some great ideas. Some have been gifted especially for this post. So get your notepad and pen and jot down some of these fabulous Christmas Eve Box ideas!
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What Is a Christmas Eve Box?
If you are not sure what a Christmas Eve Box is, it is a box (a cardboard box, crate or wooden box) that you can give to your child on Christmas Eve. You can give it to them in the morning or evening on the 24th of December.
A Christmas Eve Box is a special tradition where families prepare a box filled with small gifts and treats to be opened on the night before Christmas. The idea is to create excitement and joy, helping to build anticipation for Christmas Day.
Typically, the box may include items such as:
- Christmas pyjamas: Cosy sleepwear for the night.
- Books: A holiday-themed story to read together.
- Treats: Snacks like hot cocoa mix, cookies, or candy canes.
- Ornaments: A special decoration for the tree.
- Games or movies: Family-friendly entertainment to enjoy together.
The contents can be personalised based on the interests of the family members, making it a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the holiday season. The tradition has gained popularity in recent years, with many families adopting their own unique twists on what to include in their Christmas Eve Boxes!
When do you give Christmas Eve box morning or evening?
A Christmas Eve Box is typically given in the evening, often after dinner or just before bedtime on December 24th. This timing allows families to enjoy the contents together, creating a cosy atmosphere as they prepare for Christmas Day. Some families may choose to open the box earlier in the day, but the evening is the most common time to embrace the festive spirit and enjoy activities like reading a book, watching a movie, or sipping hot cocoa together.
I prefer to give my girls theirs in the morning, so they have the contents to play with and explore all day. It also gives me a chance to get on with my food prep and jobs for the big day!
If you prefer to give yours in the evening then that’s fine as well!
What Can I Put in a Christmas Eve Box?
You can really put whatever you feel is best into your child’s Christmas Eve Box, but here are a few options:
- Christmas Book
- Slippers and Socks
- Pyjamas
- Sweets/Chocolate
- Christmas Craft Kit
- Fruit Snacks
- Christmas Sticker Book
- Letter from Santa
- Hot Chocolate Spoon/Bomb
- Colouring Activity
- Puzzle Book
- Christmas Film
- A Christmas Game
- Gingerbread House Kit
- Santa/Reindeer Food
- Christmas Plate
Christmas Eve Box Gifts
Uh Oh Milo! – The Excited Elf
This Christmas, you can join Milo, Mary and their magical Granny as they meet the Excited Elf, a Mischief Maker causing festive mayhem just before the big day. Uh Oh Milo, The Excited Elf is a festive story, perfect for Christmas Eve, that sees Granny struggle to help Milo and Mary fall asleep before a very special visitor drops down the chimney.
Available to buy from uhohmilo.com.
Custom Enamel Pins
Custom enamel pins are great Christmas Eve box ideas for kids. You can make pins with traditional Christmas elements such as Christmas trees, and Santa or and you can also add special elements like a kid’s name, family name or kids’ favorite cartoon characters. These cute gifts make great decorations on bags, clothes, hats and many more. If you are interested in making some custom enamel pins, order now at GS-JJ.com.
Fruit Bowl Fruit Snacks
If you are looking for a great alternative to chocolatey snacks this Christmas, then Fruit Bowl Fruit Snacks are the answer!
The range includes Peelers, School Bars, Fruit Flakes and Unicorn Fruit Flakes, which all count towards your child’s five a day, helping parents to feel reassured their children will get their five-a-day even over the Christmas period.
FruitBowl’s products are available to purchase in Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Coop, Tesco, Waitrose and on Ocado and FruitBowl’s website.
Paint Sticks
With little or no mess, Paint Pop Paint Sticks create a happy experience for all – yes they dry super fast in under 60 secs. Get creative and have fun this Christmas Eve! Perfect for all Christmasy crafting!
Available to buy from Amazon.
Animal Print Fluffy Bootie Slippers
A pair of slippers is perfect for a Christmas Eve Box, and this pair from Moshulu is fabulous! They have a furry and fun animal print design with beautiful suede uppers and cosy linings. Extra grippy soles designed just for kids to have fun at home!
Rounding Up – What to put in a Christmas Eve Box
Here’s a fun table of ideas for what to include in a Christmas Eve Box! Each item adds a touch of magic and joy to the holiday season.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Christmas Pyjamas | Fun, festive socks to keep feet warm and cosy. |
| Christmas Book | A classic holiday story to read together before bed. |
| Hot Cocoa Mix | A warm treat to sip while enjoying holiday movies. |
| Socks | A family favourite film to watch together. |
| Ornament | A special ornament to hang on the tree each year. |
| Reindeer Food | Oats and glitter to sprinkle outside for Santa’s reindeer. |
| Christmas Movie | A family favourite film to watch together. |
| Sweet Treats | Candy canes, chocolates, or homemade cookies. |
| Craft Kit | A DIY project for a fun family activity. |
| Game or Puzzle | A holiday-themed game or puzzle for family fun. |
| Personalised Letter | A letter from Santa to add a special touch. |
| Bath Bombs | Festive bath bombs for a relaxing soak. |
| Small Toy | A little surprise to delight the kids. |
| Holiday Playlist | A curated mix of Christmas songs to enjoy. |
| Photo Props | Fun props for holiday photos to capture memories. |
Feel free to mix and match these items to create the perfect Christmas Eve Box for your family!
Christmas Eve Boxes
If you are looking for a Christmas Eve Box, then these are great ideas. I have a wooden box for my girls. It’s sturdy and I know will last many years!
You could also get hold of a plain wooden box and decorate it yourself with some vinyl name stickers!
I do them for my niece and nephew. This year, ive included a big warm Nordic blanket.
Pjamas, once I put a build a bear reindeer on their beds, hot choc
I would include a pair of Christmassy pyjamas, some Christmas socks, something sweet like chocolate or sweets, a hot chocolate bomb and a Christmas mug, a book or magazine and a craft activity.
I put in reindeer dust, hot chocolate, colouring book with pencils. Pjs and a bit of chocolate
one of these games if i was lucky to win as stepson getting switch for Christmas and a board game and few sweets
Pyjamas, socks, hot chocolate and some snacks.
Chocolate coins and a jigsaw
I put a family board game in our Christmas eve boxes and a Christmas movie on dvd and we settle to a game and a film before bedtime
pjs, snacks and a dvd
My lot get pyjamas, fluffy socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, a book, sweeties and biscuits, whuch are all Christmas themed. There is also a family board game, a dvd and a gingerbread house kit to open on Christmas eve morning to keep them out of my hair during the day 😁
Pyjamas, hot chocolate, reindeer food.
We put in a pair of pyjamas, selection box and a book
A Dvd, treats and new pajamas for use that night. Christmas eve film night is a tradition for us
A family film, favourite snacks, new pyjamas and fluffy socks!
Hot chocolate, chocolate Santa, pyjamas, something crafty, reindeer antlers!
Mince pies and Tinsel
Fantastic prize- good luck everyone 🤞🤞
I would put a favourite DVD into a Christmas Eve box because I love snuggling down on Christmas eve with a film we have all watched before and know we are going to enjoy
Some nice Christmas PJ’s and maybe a Christmas story book.
Wonderful ideas for a christmas eve box, I love pjs & fluffy socks <3
We do Christmas boxes on the evening of Christmas Eve.
I put in them; Pjs, hot chocolate etc
Christmas PJs and book, chocolate, stationery, soft toy, comic, fluffy socks
Pyjamas, hot chocolate, socks
Winter pyjamas, a couple of books and some chocolate
I’m a sucker for new jammies at Xmas so I would definitely put those in
I have brought the pyjamas and chocolates. I normally buy a magazine to go in there. I like the idea of some socks to put in.
I would include new pajamas, a sweet treat and a book
My husband and I are from South Africa, so we always order a few South African treats to put in our Christmas eve box.
I don’t have kids of my own – but It will be my first time hosting Christmas Eve, as an Aunty, to my 3yr, 5yr and 11 yr old nephews and nieces.
Think I’d split a puzzle or activity between their 3 boxes – so they had to combine forces to enjoy it . I like the idea of them all making a Gingerbread house together
We’ve never done a Christmas eve box but sounds like a great idea. We always get a new board game for Christmas and usually end up playing it on Christmas eve as well as a movie before bed. And snacks would go in it too!
Chocolates, Sweets and some fruit
I would probably add some coloured paper and scissors for the kids to make some of their own snowflakes and some cotton wool so they can their own santa’s beard mask
Chocs, Books, Sweets
This year we’ve got a decorate your own christmas tree decoration, new Pjs, hot chocolate bombes, a christmassy book, reindeer food and either a new film or a voucher to rent a film on sky store.
Reindeer food, hot chocolate, new book and Christmas pjs.
Pyjamas, a book, reindeer food, hot chocolate and a decoration to hang on the tree.
christmas socks some sweet treats, hot drink mixes and a dvd
Pyjamas, mini marshmallows & hot chocolate, popcorn, a Christmas story book and a Christmas dvd
new pjs, books
I put a new pair of pyjamas , hot chocolate stirrer (chocolate) marshmallows to go on the hot chocolate, some out of Christmas themed chocolate or sweets and a book
Pj’s sweeties chocs and dvds
A little chocolate treat and some new pjs
Toiletries, sweets and a teddy.
A new pair of pyjamas
new pjs, book, colouring/craft activities
Pjs, a hot chocolate kit, some sweets and a Christmas craft or puzzle and some festive socks to wear the following morning. I normally put a small christmas gift in too.
Hot chocolate, sweets, pjs, Christmas movie
I put in pyjamas hot chocolate a mug fluffy socks a Christmas book and a Christmas movie finished with a packet of sweets 🎄🎅
Pyjamas, some chocolates and a book
I would put in the box new xmas pyjamas’s & a few small pressies
I put Christmas socks, a Christmas crafty things and snacks to eat while watching a movie!
I’d put in a nice bath bomb with a festive theme x
New Pyjamas, book and hot chocolate melts and cosy socks.
I would put little treats in my great grandson’s Christmas Eve box, a colouring book and crayons, picture books and some reindeer food ready for Santa’s reindeer
i like to put in hot chocolate, xmas cup/mug and a game between them
Hot chocolate, pyjamas , a book 📕
Christmas pjs and a build your own gingerbread house kit!
I usually pop in hot chocolate stirrers, socks, slippers, new pjs, and a chocolate/ gingerbread house/ cookies to bake for Santa 🙂
christmas Pj’s
a christmas movie/dvd,
some baking kit or chcocolate/ginger bread house making kit.
some shaped christmas sweets.
Love the idea of including a Christmas plate in the Christmas Eve box! One for Santa’s mince pie and drink!
colouring books and pens, books, slippers and pj,s
I would put activities to do in the evening, with some xmas choccies and hot chocolate, oh and a pair of xmas slipper socks.
A Christmas book, me and my children love reading Christmas books
I would put PJs, dvd, sweets and reindeer food in the Christmas Eve box
I always put some naughty festive snacks a Christmas movie, new Christmas mug and slipper
Hot chocolate drink, pyjamas, fluffy socks, chocolate santaand a dvd
a mix of sweet treats and novelty games and items to keep the little uns busy at play which can involve the whole family. Still a big fan of families having a regular games night together
We have a Christmas box, it always contains new pyjamas and fluffy socks for each of us, a new book for the children to read together, some nice hot chocolate and some treats.
pyjamas, some sweets and a small toy
I love Christmas eve boxes and for me they are different for who they are from. My husband’s box has a hot chocolate and sweet cone, some new socks for first thing in the morning, a bottle of ale, some jelly babies as they are his favourite and some new pyjamas. My daughters has a Christmas book, pyjamas, a hot choc and sweet cone, reindeer food, slippers, sweets and a puzzle book.
Wow, our boys would love this for Xmas, please count me in
I make Christmas Eve boxes for my 3 children every year. They each contain new PJs, a festive book, some chocolate and something they can paint or craft!