A mum has revealed the festive traditions that she refuses to do with her kids – and says they can “get in the bin”.
Jamie-lee Birch, from Gloucestershire, is ditching three popular Christmas customs that many families swear by.
At the top of her list is the “North Pole breakfast” – a feast that some parents lay out on 1 December to mark the start of the countdown for Santa’s arrival.
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The 34-year-old is also against expensive advent calendars.
While luxury versions filled with toys, beauty products or foodie treats have soared in popularity in recent years, Jamie-lee insists her children are just as happy with a simple £1 chocolate calendar.
Christmas Eve boxes are out, too.
The tradition of gifting children a package of goodies the night before Christmas Day has taken off in the UK but the mum, who has three children – aged nine, four and one – refuses to partake in it.
“[There are] Christmas traditions that, for my family, can get in the bin,” she told What’s The Jam.
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“No, that’s a bit savage.
“But these are just three traditions that I know lots of families do, that we do not partake in.
“Number one is the North Pole breakfast.
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“Now, don’t get me wrong, these look really lovely, but for me, I feel like I don’t have my act together enough every December 1st, regardless of what day that falls on, to do this lovely breakfast.
“Sometimes we leave the house at the crack of dawn, and I just wouldn’t be able to do it.
“So it’s something that I have never, ever bought into.
“Along the same lines, we don’t do expensive advents.
“Our children get a £1 chocolate advent calendar, and I think they still get so much joy out of those.
“I don’t really see the need to get them a more expensive one.
“And finally, we do not do Christmas Eve boxes.
“I have always found it strange to give things on Christmas Eve that are only going to be used for the next day or two – like Christmas pyjamas.
“I’ve seen a few families doing the December 1st version of this, and I think it’s a much better idea because at least the things are getting used, rather than just coming out for one night.
“You know, like a mug and pyjamas?
“ If you’re going to do it, it makes more sense to do it on December 1st, so then they’ve got an entire month of being used.
“But yeah – we do not do Christmas Eve boxes in this house. Let me know if you think any of those make me a Grinch.”
Her no-nonsense take has sparked a debate with other parents.
Many admit that they, too, feel the pressure to splash out or keep up with time-consuming rituals in the run-up to the big day.
One person said: “We don’t do these either! Especially Christmas Eve boxes. So much more unnecessary financial pressure on parents at an already tight time of year.”
Someone else added: “I don’t do Christmas Eve boxes either. They’re getting plenty of Christmas presents the next day – it’s peak materialism.”
Another person said: “I’m glad to find someone else who doesn’t do Xmas eve boxes! I feel guilt every year.”
Someone else added: “We do Christmas Eve box with pyjamas etc… but she’s usually still rocking them in May so we definitely get our money’s worth!”
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