How Do You Create An Amazing Christmas Eve Basket?

Every family has different traditions for the festive season, but Christmas Eve boxes are becoming more and more common. They bring the joy of the big day early, hoping to calm excess nerves and give you a good night’s sleep. So, how do you create an amazing Christmas Eve basket?

You have the opportunity to be really creative with your basket, adding personal favourites or a reminder of an inside joke. There are go-to products for this tradition, though. Anything that gets you in the Christmas spirit, like cosy pyjamas or some festive snacks, are bound to be a great addition. Christmas Eve baskets can also be levelled up with decoration, from a simple wrapping paper to going all out with lights. 

Read on to find out more about what to put in a Christmas basket and where the tradition comes from.

What Is A Christmas Eve Basket?

A Christmas Eve basket is a hamper filled with small, festive-themed presents, designed to be enjoyed the night before the big day. It’s similar to the idea of a stocking and has become a tradition for a lot of families over recent years.

The idea of the basket, or sometimes box, is said to have originated in German and Nordic traditions, where small gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve. It may also tie in with another common practice, where parents let their children choose one present to open before the morning. 

An amazing Christmas Eve basket aims to bring the festive feeling, helping to make memories, whilst possibly keeping those jitters at bay. It helps to satisfy that craving to rip open a present and, hopefully, gets you a bit longer in bed on Christmas morning. 

What Do You Put In A Christmas Eve Basket?

The presents in a Christmas Eve basket usually follow a similar theme, but you also have an opportunity to make your gifts super personal and helpful for the recipient. You can put any number of things into a Christmas basket, but we’ve given you some of the most common ideas below:

Keep It Cosy

Comfort is key for the festive period, especially if you’ve been pouring yourself into work or school. Make someone’s Christmas Eve as cosy as possible with the following fillers:

• Pyjamas: Find some comfy pyjamas that can be used all year round, or focus on the festive feeling. You can really jump-start the Christmas spirit with these, no matter who’s opening the basket. 

• Socks Or Slippers: The winter months get cold, even when we’re tucked up inside. Keep those toes warm by adding a pair of fluffy socks or slippers into your baskets. 

• Blankets: A nice blanket will keep anyone cosy for the night and can be useful for those Christmas Eve movie marathons. They might also help ease the transition between opening presents and bedtime for the little ones.

Don’t Get Bored

Waiting for Christmas morning can feel like forever, so it’s important to keep everyone occupied and in a good mood. You could add:

• Films: Whether it’s an old favourite or a new release, Christmas movies are a great way to pass the time. You can also show your loved ones how well you know them, by picking something they’ve mentioned from their childhood. 

• Books: Easing the kids into bed and hoping for a good night’s sleep is almost as big a tradition as these baskets. Such excitement can be overwhelming for the little ones, so calming everything down with a short story can make this process easier.

• Board Games: The festive period is all about creating memories as a family and there’s nothing that brings people together (and creates minor arguments!) like a board game. Pick a family favourite to get you all riled up or go for something new to add the challenge of new rules.

Make It Personal

Like most gift baskets, you can buy pretty much anything for a Christmas Eve hamper, but adding in something personal can really make someone feel special. So, try:

• Ornaments: Receiving a personalised ornament for the tree can mean a lot to anyone, especially if you choose a theme that relates to their interests. You could also make this into a family affair, and gather everyone to contribute to an annual ornament that represents you all.

• Notes Or Letters: For the kids in the family, a personal letter from the big man himself can make their night. Bring Santa into Christmas Eve and make your children feel extra excited about the day to come. This also suits an adult basket too. Write something meaningful to a loved one and add it to their basket. 

Give Something Useful

When Christmas comes around, it can often feel like you’re gifting for the sake of it. The house can quickly fill up with clutter and you can sometimes question how often a present will actually be used. Avoid this with your Christmas basket by adding:

• Toiletries:  Everyone could always use something that smells divine. Look out for festive flavours of your loved ones’ favourite products and pop them in. Hand cream, lip balm, or pamper sets always come in handy.

• Mugs: Hot drinks are plentiful around the holiday season, so give someone a mug to start, or add to, their collection. You could go for something festive, one related to their interests, or even a funny joke you can laugh over together.

How Do You Make A Gift Basket Look Nice?

Buying gifts to go into your Christmas Eve basket is just half of the battle. To create an amazing basket, decoration is just as important as what goes inside. So, here’s a few of our tips:

• Choosing A Basket: Giving a nice-looking gift starts with the foundations. Here at Northern Willow, we offer a range of wicker hamper baskets that would be perfect for filling with presents. After it’s all said and done, they can be repurposed as a stylish storage solution, keeping clutter all in one place.

• Wrapping Paper: You don’t have to wrap each individual present, especially if your Christmas basket has a lid. Excitement can come from just seeing what’s inside, but wrapping can add extra joy. Choose a paper with your children’s favourite character or something that suits your friend’s style. This is a great way to make a basket look more appealing. 

• Festive Decoration: Keep the rustic look of a wicker basket going and add holly, cinnamon sticks, or even pine cones, to your gift, with the added benefit of the natural scents. You could also go all out, adding a set of fairy lights to really light up your loved ones’ faces. 

• Packaging: If you don’t have the time to wrap individual gifts, fear not! You can still make an amazing Christmas Eve basket, even with an open-top hamper. Lay your presents on a festive filler material, like our red or green shredded paper. Once everything’s inside, keep it all in place and create a masterpiece with Northern Willow’s heat shrinkable cellophane bags.

Christmas Eve Baskets With Northern Willow

Christmas can get chaotic, but we can make this season much easier. Whether you need the base of an amazing gift or a rustic way to present your festive feast, Northern Willow is bound to be able to give you a hand with one of our many products. 

Our range of handcrafted baskets are made from long-lasting and sustainable materials, designed to be a part of your home for years to come. Every option is created with organisation in mind, so you can be sure Northern Willow products will only improve your home.

Have any questions about our products? Get in touch with our friendly team today and we’ll be happy to help!

FAQs

What Time Do You Give A Christmas Eve Basket?

Because of its traditional origins, most people give Christmas Eve boxes in the evening. It sets you up for a cosy evening and starts off that festive feeling. If you’re giving a basket to your children and are looking to fill it with activities, you might want to consider gifting it in the morning. This will keep them occupied while you finish off preparations and won’t keep them awake with the desire to play with their new toys. 

Do You Wrap Presents In A Christmas Eve Basket?

It’s entirely up to you! Some people choose not to when their basket has a lid or covering, with the excitement of unwrapping turning into the joy of discovering what’s inside. Wrapping paper can give a sense of mystery if you’re using an open-top basket, however, so it’s really a personal choice.

What Can You Put In An Adult Christmas Eve Basket?

Every Christmas basket can include very similar things, as we’ve detailed above, but there are things you can add in to make it more suitable for the older loved ones in your life. Try adding in their favourite alcohol or something with a festive twist they might enjoy. Scented candles are also a perfect option and you could continue kitting out their house with some personalised wine glasses, for example.