The Night Before Christmas Box Tradition is a fun Christmas Eve activity for family to do together where you open a Christmas Eve box of mini gifts, games, treats or anything else you want to put in your family gift for December 24.
I’ve also provided a huge list of 100 Christmas Eve box ideas for adults, kids, teen gifts, family ideas, and things to put in a Night Before Christmas Box for toddlers! So, don’t miss those if you’re wondering what are some ideas for filling a Christmas Eve box for kids and adults!
How To Start The Night Before Christmas Box Tradition For Family Holiday Ideas
What is a Christmas Eve box?
The Night Before Christmas box (or Christmas Eve box) is a fun gift crate or gift box with Christmas presents, games, and/or snacks that a family opens on the night before Christmas on December 24th.
It’s a fun family time holiday tradition in anticipation of the big day the next day / Christmas morning and another way to have family time during the rushed holiday season.
The whole point of a Christmas Eve box is not just more “stuff” for the holidays. It’s built around something the family can do together.
Sometimes, people make individual gift boxes and use them as children’s Christmas box gifts to give kids a nice, special gift before they open the rest of their gifts on Christmas day.
Or, some parents make it a Night Before Christmas Box game and send kids on a scavenger hunt (with Christmas Eve box printable clues) and make it fun game to find their box for Christmas Eve.
So, you can make it as simple or elaborate as you want for the holidays.
What do you put in a Christmas Eve Night Before Christmas box?
A Night Before Christmas Eve box can include anything you want to put in it, from Christmas cookies, hot chocolate packets, mini gifts for each family member, or even a special (more expensive) treat that you don’t get the rest of the year.
However, I like to put things in there that the family can do together to enjoy family time before Christmas Day.
Think of things like card games, small LEGO sets, family holiday pajamas and Christmas socks with a holiday movie DVD or a Christmas picture book you can read together. Those kinds of things.
Or, if you’re doing individual Christmas Eve boxes, then put gifts geared toward each person’s individual tastes.
There’s no right or wrong answer for what traditionally goes in a Christmas Eve box.
ALSO CHECK OUT: 40+ Old Fashioned Christmas Ideas For A Simple Holiday Season
Is a Christmas Eve box from Santa or Parents?
The Night before Christmas Eve boxes can be from parents, elves, Father Christmas, Santa, the Grinch, your pets (or whomever you want).
Some parents give special gifts to each kid in the night before boxes.
Some play the family tradition box by saying that Santa’s elves drop off the eve of Christmas boxes and it’s filled with pajamas for Christmas day and other holiday goodies.
There’s no right or wrong way to do Christmas Eve boxes and don’t get caught up on the perfect gift! Just use it to enjoy the holiday season together as a family!
100 Night Before Christmas Eve Box Ideas
Night Before Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Family
- Christmas movie night DVD or streaming gift card
- Matching family Christmas pajamas
- Hot chocolate mix with festive marshmallows
- Christmas popcorn and movie theater candy
- Family Christmas trivia game
- Christmas-themed board game
- Mini Gingerbread house decorating kits
- Christmas cookie decorating supplies
- Personalized family Christmas ornament
- Christmas Eve countdown sign
- Holiday-themed playing cards
- Christmas storybook to read together
- Festive mugs for the whole family
- Christmas scavenger hunt clues
- Holiday puzzle to complete together
- Reindeer food-making kit
- Family Christmas activity coupons
- Cozy Christmas throw blanket
- Christmas breakfast pancake mix
- Christmas bingo cards
- Personalized letters from Santa
- Christmas craft supplies for all ages
- Family Christmas photo booth props
Night Before Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Adults
- Luxury hot chocolate mix with cute mug
- Mini bottle of champagne or sparkling cider
- Christmas-themed wine glass
- Cozy holiday socks
- Scented Christmas candle
- Holiday-themed coffee mug
- Gourmet Christmas chocolates
- Holiday herbal tea sampler
- Personalized Christmas ornament
- Mini charcuterie board kit
- Gourmet popcorn sampler
- Christmas crossword puzzle book
- Peppermint hand lotion
- Holiday-themed sleep mask
- Cozy winter slippers
- Christmas coffee blend
- Festive chocolate-covered pretzels
- Christmas-themed adult coloring book & markers
- Christmas-themed kitchen towel
- Homemade hot chocolate mason jar
- Christmas gratitude journal
Night Before Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids
- Christmas pajamas
- Personalized letter from Santa
- Christmas coloring book with holiday crayons or markers
- Christmas sticker sheets
- Mini Christmas LEGO set
- Christmas-themed stuffed animal
- Santa hat
- Christmas storybook
- Reindeer food kit
- Holiday-themed slime
- Christmas-themed Play-Doh
- Christmas character socks
- Candy canes
- Christmas craft kit
- Santa’s Nice List certificate
- Christmas-themed fidget toys
- Mini snow globe
- Christmas window clings
Night Before Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Teens
- Trendy Christmas pajamas
- Holiday-themed fuzzy socks
- Hot chocolate bomb
- Christmas movie snack pack
- Festive lip gloss
- Holiday-scented body mist
- Mini Bluetooth speaker
- Holiday skincare face masks
- Gourmet Christmas candy
- Holiday-themed journal
- Ear buds or headphones
- Christmas nail art stickers
- Mini ring light for selfies
- Festive scrunchies
- Christmas-themed tumbler
- Holiday coffee shop gift card
- Christmas-themed graphic T-shirt
- Mini portable phone charger
- Festive friendship bracelet kit
- Holiday escape room game
- Personalized Christmas ornament
Night Before Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Toddlers
For toddler boxes, choose age-appropriate items without small detachable parts, button batteries, or other choking hazards.
- Soft Christmas pajamas
- Christmas board book
- Mini plush Santa
- Stuffed reindeer
- Christmas-themed bath toys
- Holiday rubber duck
- Oversized holiday suckers
- Chunky Christmas crayons
- Christmas coloring sheets
- Christmas stickers
- Christmas-themed stacking cups
- Soft Christmas blanket
- Christmas finger puppets
- Holiday-themed sippy cup
- Christmas character socks
- Christmas-themed bubble wand
- Christmas-themed lift-the-flap book
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
I hope you have fun with your Night Before Christmas Box Tradition!
