It's the most wonderful time of the year and magic is in the air! We love Christmas here at Gathered and try to make the festive season last as long as possible. Whether that's through sewing a fabric advent calendar or making some needle felt Christmas decorations, the Christmas prep has begun and we're so excited.
One of our recent obsessions is Christmas Eve boxes. This Christmas trend has been getting bigger and bigger each year – Christmas Eve boxes add some extra sparkle and kindness to Christmas Eve for adults and kids.
They make everyone excited for the big day and can be a wonderful addition to your festive celebrations. You can fill your Christmas Eve boxes with whatever you choose. They don't need to be expensive either. You can hit the charity shops or make your boxes small and only include one or two items inside – it's the thought that counts!
Upcycle an old crate or shoebox as the container and cover it in handmade wrapping paper for decoration. Personalised and handmade boxes will make the receiver feel special, so adding touches, jokes, and items that have a private meaning is a must.
To help you start crafting your boxes we've included a whole bunch of Christmas Eve box ideas below. There's everything from handwritten letters and knitted blankets to hot chocolate bombs and sweet mugs. They're a mixture of store-bought items and handmade patterns so you can tailor your boxes to how much time you have to prepare.
We've split our list into Christmas Eve box ideas for adults and Christmas Eve box ideas for kids, but many of the ideas are suitable for all ages, meaning every lucky family member can receive a box! Leave your Christmas Eve boxes in the living room, pop on a festive film, and get ready to see their excited faces as they unbox.
Main image © eggeeggjiew
21 Christmas Eve box ideas for adults
1. A Christmas Eve box!
First up you need a Christmas Eve box to store all your goods in. There are loads out there but we especially love this one from Hoolaroo.
Personalised Christmas Eve boxes not only make the evening extra special but they're often sturdy so can be used year after year or as Christmas storage. You could also get your family surname engraved rather than your first name so you can use it for your partner and possible future kids.
2. Festive books
Christmas books aren't just for kids! This gorgeous cloth-bound book is full of festive tales that are both nostalgic and magical.
There's also loads of festive chick lit out there to curl up with on Christmas Eve, such as The Merry Christmas Project. We're here for wholesome Christmas Eve box ideas and entertainment for adults.
3. Hot chocolate bombs
Hot chocolate is the drink of Christmas and hot chocolate bombs make the process even more fun! Pour hot milk or oat milk over the top of your hot chocolate bomb (we've included festive mugs below) and watch as they dissolve and turn into your tasty drink.
There's loads of different hot chocolate bombs out there including vegan ones, ones with marshmallows and sprinkles, and even unicorn ones. This fun little snowman hot chocolate bomb is from Amazon and is perfect for a chilly Christmas Eve.
Hot chocolate stirrers are also great Christmas Eve box additions and a little more grown-up if it's an adult receiving your box.
Looking for more ideas to keep your kids entertained?
Check out our arts and crafts to do at home for lots of fun activities to try.
4. Homemade biscuit treats
Bake some delicious biscuits for your Christmas Eve boxes using our gingerbread biscuit recipe. These biscuits are ideal for crafters because they look like mini thread wheels!
Cook some, then decorate with festive icing and include them in the box alongside your hot chocolate bomb for a tasty Christmas Eve treat. You could also pop one of these gingerbread house kits inside too.
5. Cozy socks and PJs
Everyone gets a pair of socks for Christmas but go the extra mile by making some handmade ones.
Use our free cable socks knitting pattern to knit some fuzzy socks (you could use festive yarn colours to make yours) that your loved ones can wear on Christmas morning.
6. Personalised Christmas decorations
Sentimental Christmas Eve box ideas will always have a special place in our hearts. For kids, new couples or even new pet owners, personalised Christmas decorations are always a winner.
Celebrate the new relationship with a sweet tree ornament that will remind you of that Christmas Eve for years to come. We love how simple these clear decorations are and just know they'll go with any Christmas decor.
7. Homemade wax melts and candles
There's nothing better than opening a Christmas Eve box and getting a huge waft of gorgeous scents. Candles and wax melts that are scented with winter spices, candy canes, or potpourri will make lovely additions and make the box truly smell like Christmas.
We teach you how to make wax melts and beeswax candles here on Gathered. Simply scent yours with wintry essential oils and for the wax melts use a Christmassy mould to shape your melts into tiny presents, Santas, or snowflakes.
8. Festive journals and stickers
We love journalling all year round but we also think it would be a reflective Christmas Eve activity for all the family. Grab some notebooks or buy your loved ones a special journal for their box and write down all your hopes, dreams, and wishes for the new year.
There's plenty of Christmassy accessories you can buy for scrapbooking and journalling, like these vintage stickers or background papers. If you're new to the world of journalling, don't worry: we have a collection of art journal ideas and a guide on how to bullet journal here on Gathered.
9. Fun festive accessories
Silly accessories and ugly Christmas jumpers are a must. There's loads of great accessories you can pick up, pop in the box, and smile as your wear them around the home.
Whether it's these funny glasses or some Rudolph antlers, fun accessories will make the family Christmas photos truly memorable.
10. Disposable camera
Capture the excitement of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with a disposable camera! Both kids and adults will love seeing this in their Christmas Eve box and you'll have some wonderful memories captured on film for years to come.
Plus once you get the photos developed, you can sit down, look through them together and reminisce about the best Christmas yet.
11. Christmas Eve activity
Once the Christmas Eve box has been unwrapped and loved you'll need a peaceful activity to fill out the evening. We have plenty of mini festive projects here on Gathered that could easily be finished in one evening.
Why not sew this merry and bright free embroidery design and display it in a hoop for Christmas day? Or you could sew some simple Christmas patchwork coasters to rest your hot chocolate on?
To make your activity a Christmas Eve box idea just include the materials in the box as an extra gift. Then you can craft the evening away together.
12. Cute mug
Whether it's a cinnamon tea, a creamy hot chocolate or even a cheeky Baileys, pouring your beverage into a cute Christmas mug makes the whole experience 10x better. Fact.
There are some really lovely festive mugs out there, like this personalised bear mug by TeHe Gifts. Pop chocolates, cosy socks, or candy canes inside for some extra Christmas magic.
13. Hot water bottle cover
Hot water bottles are a Christmas Eve must. Craft your friends and family a cuddly hot water bottle cover and include it in their box for a handmade surprise.
Our free hot water bottle cover knitting pattern is a little polar bear – a very Christmassy creature! Knit one up and keep warm.
14. Slippers
Christmas Eve box ideas that are cute, comfy and cosy? Yes, please! Knit up a pair of adorable foxy slippers or some pretty pom pom slippers and slip them into your box. Handmade slippers will be treasured for years to come and can be worn all winter long.
15. A card game for you all to play
Christmas isn't Christmas without a family argument about a board game! These tiny board games make perfect Christmas Eve box ideas for adults. There's a huge range of them including Monopoly, Cluedo, and Guess Who, so you can choose your partner's favourite game and buy it in mini.
16. Mini chocolates or sweets
Christmas Eve box ideas don't come more simple than chocolates! They may be basic but we think they're a staple.
Fill the surrounding gaps in your box with mini Christmas chocolates to bring extra delight to your box. We love these mini Lindt reindeers for Christmas Eve boxes because they're both tasty and cute.
17. Snuggly scarf for Christmas Day
Everyone needs a warm scarf for their chilly Boxing Day walk and a Christmas Eve box is the best place to gift one.
We have a huge range of scarf patterns here on Gathered, including this funky, free men's crochet scarf pattern. Crochet, knit or sew one up, personalise it with your love's initials and fold it into their Christmas Eve box.
18. Festive colouring in
Colouring in is the relaxing activity we love to do year-round and is perfect for a quiet Christmas evening. We have loads of adult colouring books here on Gathered but we think this festive version is ideal for a Christmas Eve box.
There's a huge range of Christmas colouring books for kids as well, making this Christmas Eve box idea suitable for all ages. Don't forget to include some pens too!
19. A tasty tipple!
Everyone deserves their favourite beverage at Christmas! Pop a mini bottle in their Christmas Eve box to help them unwind. There's a huge range of mini drinks, including lots of non-alcoholic options, but a Baileys gives us all the festive feels.
20. Face masks or skincare
Christmas Eve is all about relaxing and getting ready for Christmas Day. You've popped your festive film on and you've got all your treats, but what else do you need for a pamper night? Face masks of course!
We're in love with Read My Lips pigs in blankets face masks. They're funny, festive and will leave your skin plump and ready to eat all the real pigs in blankets.
21. Chunky blankets
The final Christmas Eve box idea we have for you is a big one! If you want to go all out for your Christmas Eve box then you could knit your own chunky blanket. Blankets are a winter essential and this gorgeous cream knit can be displayed all year round in your home.
Christmas Eve box ideas for kids
22. Treats for Santa
Santa and Rudolph need their Christmas Eve treats too. Pop a mince pie, a bottle of milk and a carrot into your little one's Christmas Eve box and let them leave it out for Santa.
For a more reusable option use our free crochet carrot pattern and include it in their box every year.
23. Letter from Santa or from you!
It's Christmas Eve, which means Santa is on his way to meet your little ones and he's dropping them a quick note to let them know! Write a letter from Santa, his elves or Rudolph to get your kids even more excited for the big day.
We have loads of letter writing and card making material here on Gathered including how to make an envelope, snow globe Christmas cards and even free Christmas bauble patterned papers.
If you're making a Christmas Eve box for adults then why not write a heartfelt letter from you? Tell your friends and family how much you love them and how proud you are of them for everything they've achieved in the last year.
24. Cuddly Christmas pals
Our collection of Christmas Eve box ideas couldn't miss out on this cutie! Use Mollie Makes' free amigurumi Christmas ornament patterns to hook up this cutie and put him in your box.
Cuddly toys and sweet ornaments make great Christmas Eve box additions. Whether you use our free teddy bear sewing pattern to make your own or you buy a sweet reindeer toy, we just know your kids will love having a friendly face poking out of the box for them to cuddle.
25. A crafty Christmas kit!
Here at Gathered, we believe that no Christmas Eve box is complete without a festive craft kit. There's hundreds of different craft kits on the market but for Christmas Eve we think it's important to pick one which is simple, makes little mess, and can be completed that evening in time for the big day.
This mini gingerbread decoration kit is the perfect family activity on Christmas Eve. They're suitable for ages 3+ and come in a pack of three, which means the whole family can join in while a festive film plays in the background. Then your kids can proudly hang their new decorations from the tree before they go to bed. For more Christmas crafts for kids head over to our listicle.
26. A bedtime story
Christmas books always make beautiful additions to Christmas Eve boxes. Snuggle up with your little ones on the sofa or read it to them just before they go off to sleep to help them dream sweet dreams.
There's plenty of kids' books out there but this wholesome story about a postman is one of our favourites. We just love the traditional illustrations that capture the spirit of Christmas.
Make this December extra special with Christmas Eve boxes
Christmas Eve boxes make the night before just as special as the big day. It's a chance to gift fun, silly presents as opposed to the serious "grown up" ones often given on Christmas Day. Fill it with presents which mean something to your loved one.
Remember they don't have to cost lots of money! Make handmade presents, bake some treats or add a handwritten letter in the box. Personalised presents can be crafted not bought. After all it's the thought that counts!
Adults and kids alike will love seeing a little box, designed just for them, waiting under the tree. Grab some snacks, pop a festive film on and watch the joy on their faces as they open their Christmas Eve boxes.
Find fun Christmas Eve box ideas with Gathered
Fill your Christmas Eve box with lots of handmade goodies. Head over to our crochet Christmas decorations and pop a special decoration in your Christmas Eve boxes.
