What to Put in a Christmas Eve Box?

Published on: November 22, 2022

A Christmas Eve box is generally a small box gifted to children the night before Christmas. You can fill it with anything your kids might like! In the past few years, Christmas Eve boxes have become very popular, as they turn the night before Christmas into something special to look forward to!

But they can also be used for adults and can be a fun way to keep Christmas Eve exciting for the grown-ups too! Find below some info on how to get your Christmas Eve box as well as unique ideas for what to put inside (for both children and adults).

Wooden Christmas Eve Boxes

First of all, if you haven’t already got a Christmas Eve box, a personalised one is a great idea. Seeing their name on the box can really add to the fun and allows kids to take pride in their box!

You can get one for each child or to make things easier get one for the whole family, and fill it with gifts for everyone. All our personalised Christmas Eve boxes are 25.5cm wide, 10.5cm tall and 20.5cm deep and made from beautiful, sustainably sourced FSC wood which creates a lovely rustic aesthetic. Plus you can reuse this box every year to keep the magic alive!

Christmas Eve Box Fillers

So, what should you fill them up with? The options can be varied as it will mainly depend on the recipient’s tastes and what their interests are – but here are a few of our favourite ideas.

Ideas for Kids

If you’re looking for some quick ideas, see our bullet points below. Keep scrolling for more detailed ideas.

  • Pyjamas or slippers
  • Christmas mug (with hot chocolate/marshmallows inside)
  • Fluffy socks
  • Craft kits or colouring books
  • A Christmas film (accompanied by popcorn)
  • Christmas decorations for them to hang up
  • Toiletries (toothbrushes, bubble bath, bath toys etc.)
  • Blankets
  • Stockings, if they don’t already have one
  • Hot water bottles
  • Puzzles or Games

Ideas for Adults

  • Comfy slippers or loungewear
  • Funny Christmas socks
  • Self care essentials (scented candles, bath bombs, health and beauty sets, bubble bath etc.)
  • A Christmas or horror movie
  • Mini alcohol bottles or alcohol gift sets
  • A funny Christmas jumper or shirt
  • A personalised mug or glass for warm Christmas drinks
  • Festive chocolates
  • Christmas games or board games
  • Christmas decorations
  • Gift cards or vouchers

So, What to Choose for Your Kids?

Games for Kids

What a better to spend time together during the long night before the big day than to play a game or two? You’ll see – the longer you’ll play, the quicker time will pass and keep them occupied! Get some ideas of games to play in our wide range of kids games and puzzles or cheap games toys, starting from £3.99 only.

Reindeer Food

Buy a few bags of “magic” reindeer food for the little ones to sprinkle on the lawn before they go to sleep – a nice way for your kids to feel useful by helping the reindeers as they fly from home to home ;).To cut down the costs, you can also buy a few bags of oats, muesli, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or even dried fruits, and make it yourself. Simply fill some sandwich bags, and print out some labels.

Sweets or Chocolates

Add a few sweets, chocolates, or popcorn to the box to nibble on while you are playing or watching a movie. A good idea is the popular Jelly Belly Beanboozled spinner game, which is great fun for all the family!

Craft Kits

Bring your kids inner artistic taste and introduce some craft kits in their box – a great activity to do on the night as it may give them something to focus on! From painting unicorn moulds, making Christmas cards with a mega Crayola tub full of pens, making colourful slimes, or creating jewellery, nail art or bracelets. We’ve got a few handpicked kits for any age, browse our range here.

Teddy or Soft Toys

Get them a Christmas teddy with their own name embroidered on to keep them company for the night! It can be something they use every Christmas and sleep with each Christmas Eve to help them cope with the excitement.

A Special Christmas Decoration

Add a personal touch to your tree this year and get your kids their own Christmas bauble or snowflake tree decoration with their cutest photo and name on – a great gift for them to hang on the Christmas tree and feel valued! You could also create a custom photo snow globe, perfect for Christmas gifting! Or, if you are looking to create your own Christmas ornaments this year, we have a short blog on how to make your own Christmas tree decorations.

A Recipe for Cooking

Initiate your kids to do some cooking with you and encourage them to help with the Christmas dinner! You could even get them cute little personalised kids aprons in order to make them feel even more in charge. You could also print an easy recipe of something you know they love to eat but don’t get to eat that often, such as a chocolate fondue, cupcakes and more.

Our Favourite Adults Prezzies

Photo Socks

Create a unique pair of socks and personalise them with your very own photos. Whether you upload your favourite animal face, your favourite actor – or a family member on them, you can select along our festive templated designs the one that will make them laugh and keep their toes warm on the cold night before Christmas.

New Comfy Pyjamas

Get cosy and snuggle into new comfy pjs! For an extra family feel you could even get the same pyjamas in different sizes so that everyone looks the same – perfect for a funny family photo to remember or print some day! Or simply get matching pyjamas for your twin kids, or as a newlywed couple.

Personalised Mug/Glass

Make your own Christmas mug to face the cold months ahead in a cheerful way! Browse through Christmas mug designs or even engraved glasses to find a customisable template you might like. For beverages ideas, read our blog on our Christmas cocktail to find ideas of hot or cold flavourful drinks made of a variety of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, chai, vanilla, orange, honey, mandarin or cranberry.

Christmas Classic Movies

With hundreds of Christmas classics to choose from, why don’t you get add a new movie to their Christmas Eve box every year? Popular choices if you don’t have them already include: The Grinch, Elf, Arthur Christmas, Jack Frost, Home Alone or The Polar Express.

Christmas jumpers or onesies

Get cheerful and cosy with a new Christmas jumper or reindeer onesie this year – a perfect to stay warm and lounge around the house! With super-cosy designs featuring everyone’s favourite Christmas characters, you won’t be able to resist a brand-new Christmas jumpers. Scour down the charity shops or vintage stores to add keep the price low 😉 You can even create personalised hoodies or jumpers, perfect for adding a personal touch to your Christmas gifts this year!

Scented Candles, Toiletries and Health and Beauty Gifts

Get the festive feeling going with spirals of vibrant colour and scents from a range of Christmas bath bombs, health and beauty treats and scented candles – sure to make any holiday a jolly-day! You can explore an indulgent range of health and beauty gifts including body wash, bath bombs and bubble bath for a relaxing bath experience, or shop a delightful range of candles including unique personalised designs! You can even explore top care brands, including Heathcote and Ivory, Heyland & Whittle, and Cath Kidston!

Used since immemorial times – candles are just unavoidable. Their smell, flame, and the atmosphere they create makes them the perfect relaxing gift. Choose a nice Christmassy scent and a festive design to make it your own.

Set of Playing cards

Get your children a brand-new set of playing cards with their favourite TV series, or film branding? There’s a lot to choose from, whether they are Harry Potter fans, or absolute Friends addicts.

Alcohol Miniatures or Gift Sets

A special Christmassy cocktail served in your own personalised glass – what a better way to get in the Christmas spirit than with… spirit (of course)! You can get add some sparkle to your drinks with our raspberry unicorn tears gin and balloon glass gift set. If you and your partner are into gin you could also get our unique gin baubles set of six filled with South Bank London Dry Gin – a fun way to make the most of your Christmas decorations.