How does your family open Christmas gifts?

[JParm]

Since I was a kid, I can remember us sitting around the tree while waiting for my Dad to play some holiday songs shortly after having breakfast on Christmas morning. We then went around the room one by one, each opening up a single gift in rotation so that we got to see one another's faces, as well as the gifts that were being opened. We would do this until the last gift was opened.

My wife's family is completely opposite, as it's more of a free for all. The first time we did it with them (our style), they were like wow, this is taking forever! Needless to say, my wife is on-board with how my family does it and it's the practice that we take with our 2 young kids now. Patience, oh little ones!

So, how does your family celebrate the holiday? Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Does everyone open gifts at the same time? What else do you do on Christmas Day?

[Widows Son]

One at a time, with the kids retrieving them from under the tree. But then again, we have a small family.

[uscmatt99]

Great thread idea! My wife and I make sure to sleep in as the minutes inexorably pass by for the kids who have been up since 5am. We all sit on the couches by the tree and fireplace Christmas morning. Each person empties the stockings one at a time so I can take some pics. Then we do a round-robin of the wrapped gifts with the kids passing them out. My wife and I limit what we get each other and make it about the kids.

We usually get them each one thing they really want and put it in unexpected packaging, then video the unboxing. Last year it was a Super Mario game in a cereal box.

Growing up my extended family all got together for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which was easy as we were all in northern California. Now it's just the 4 of us in Michigan, but at least we have FaceTime!

[pickettt]

Our entire (as much as possible) family spends Christmas Eve together at one of our houses. The host rotates annually. We spend the whole day together, and in the evening we open gifts from one another...but only after all children under 18 are forced to sing a medley of Christmas Carols. Then we all depart to our respective homes, where, on Christmas morning, we open slightly more grand gifts from "Santa Claus." Nearly a 50 year tradition. My grandparents hosted the first 35 years until their passing. We grandchildren have picked up the torch and carry the tradition.

[AK797]

We all gather round the tree at around 1pm and open the presents. I'd like it to be one at a time so we all see what everyone got but it never happens like that. Then at 2pm we have Christmas Lunch of Turkey, Roasties, Parsnips, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Pigs in Blankets with a bottle of Mouton Rothschild this year; then at 3pm we watch the Queen's speech which will be interesting this year as it is probably her worst ever, I'd make us all stand to watch it if I could ever get up from my couch, and at 4pm we have Christmas Pudding and Trifle with, this year, a pot of £100 green tea that we got as a gift, keen to try that.

[JParm]

Loving the traditions so far gents!

[Blansky]

So they can use the wrapping paper and the bows again.

It's a very delicate time, no frenzy.

We're usually done by 5PM after a 10 o'clock start.

[EEpro]

We go to Church at 3:30, eat Chinese food at 5. Drive around looking at lights and listening to Christmas music. Off to bed with a story (3 young sons). Empty tree Christmas Eve. Santa stays up late and delivers the goods. Kids come down at 5 am and tear into them while mom and dad sip coffee and wonder how they'll stay awake 16 more hours.

[1st amg]

Wake up Christmas morning and kids open their presents one at a time taking turns. My wife and I exchange our gift in front of the kids, generally small presents to show the kids it’s not about big expensive gifts but small thoughtful ones. Dad always gets socks, underwear etc.
This year we are in Punta Cana and the kids have been asking us if Santa delivers presents here for the last three weeks. We brought some small cute stuff for them and their other presents will be under the Christmas tree when we return. Merry Christmas gang!


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[Brenngun]

Wake up... Grab a coffee... Gather round... open one at a time in rotation from youngest to oldest. Each gift opening is met with everyone bellowing in unison OHHHHHH!!! AHHHHHH!!!

Hugs and kisses afterwards followed by overeating, overdrinking and uncle Walter falling asleep behind the piano...….. such a great tradition.

Merry Christmas! Chag Urim Sameach! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Festivus for the rest of us! to all TRF'ers.

[spaghettipapi]

The youngest person who can read picks a present from under the tree, announces who it's for and who it's from, then hands it to the recipient, who opens it while everyone watches. Repeat till all presents are opened.

[Frontier]

Jessie,
Great topic. We usually wake up on Christmas morning and the kids b-line to their stockings to unload then. After stockings we put a fire on in the fireplace, take group photos in front of the tree, and have breakfast before taking turns opening the gifts. The unwrapping ritual lasts 2-3 hours, followed by breaking down boxes and cleaning up the room.
This year we broke rank by exchanging gifts a few days early and celebrating Christmas in Lake Placid, NY.

[Burlington]

It’s our first year hosting Christmas and our boy is just about old enough now to realise something different is going on.

He had his present from us this evening on Christmas Eve and we will open the rest from the family tomorrow & hopefully head down to the beach for a pre lunch walk if the weather doesn’t prevent it.

[andyxxx]

In our home, traditionally, Father Christmas placed a small stocking at the bottom of the children’s beds, which they excitedly (and annoyingly early) would bring through to Mummy & Daddy’s bedroom ( – far too early) to open.

Then we would go downstairs to the fireplace, where Santa had eaten his pie and drunk the booze the kids had left on xmas eve (and the reindeer had taken a chomp of the carrot) and left a number of presents that appeared to have tumbled down the chimney.

This lasted until last year (when they were 17 and 13)

This year they want to wait until a bit later (I guess that means they may have slight hangovers – as I did at that age) and they will open them mid-morning.

I have had a great Christmas eve – me, the wife and both ‘children’ have been out, had fun, a few drinks and I'm about to go to bed.

Merry Christmas to you all!!

[Jabbo84]

I was told by my wife I’m not getting anything this year. I took that to mean no gifts either

[Albusdabbledore]

We do one at a time my girlfriends family does a free for all


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[JayHantz]

When my sister and I grew up, we got up but could NOT go out until a prescribed time that my parents gave us (usually 6:00 am). My sister would find her way into my room and we would wait, painstakingly, for the clock to hit 6:00. We would then book it to my parents room making sure they were awake. We would all then go out to the living room where the tree was, and turn on the lights. However, we could only look until mom and dad got their coffee. Then, we would all take turns, one by one, opening gifts. Then we would break for breakfast, and resume the opening until it was complete.

[JParm]

I love these stories guys; how lucky are we to have family to share these things with?

We just put the milk and cookies out for Santa and I'm charging my 5-year-old's little go-kart for the big reveal tomorrow.

[austinp]

My kids are teenagers now but we still go 1 at a time, youngest to oldest till everything's opened. Then we head over to my sister's house and start all over again. Then we eat and drink too much. It's a pretty great day. Merry Christmas everyone!

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[Fat_ninja]

Lol we don’t do xmas gifts :(


Just kind of scattered through out the year...kind of whenever

[Lawman77]

That’s too bad. But I suppose it depends a lot on background and demographics in your family.

[daOnlyBG]

My in-laws celebrate Christmas Eve more than Christmas (which they just spend time chilling around), so it really works out in my favor. Christmas Eve is spent with them and they do a Secret Santa, which really takes away from the stress of having to shop for everyone.

Christmas morning I wake up at my folks' place, where we all share gifts in the morning while drinking coffee. When 11:30 a.m. hits, we shift our focus to the impending doom of having to entertain several dozen guests at our annual Christmas feast. Somewhere in there I consume copious amounts of whiskey.

[morganc]

Hah. So cute boys in the photo.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I love these stories guys; how lucky are we to have family to share these things with?

We just put the milk and cookies out for Santa and I'm charging my 5-year-old's little go-kart for the big reveal tomorrow.

We never did do the milk and cookies for Santa or the stockings, Dad would however drag our freezing souls to Trafalgar Square for carol singing every Christmas Eve. Looking back on it now I'm amazed he always found parking.

[Burlington]

Starting our Christmas traditions - a trip to the beach.