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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not see the point of wrapping presents?

109 replies

Hatewrappingpresents · 24/12/2023 21:42

The paper is torn off, makes a mess and then gets put in the bin. I know they look nice under the tree but other than that is there an actual point to this tradition?

OP posts:
ANightmareBeforeChristmas · 24/12/2023 22:01

I suppose, while they are wrapped they are parcels of mystery that could contain the most marvellous things you've always wanted, so it creates excitement.

A soft, lumpy thing and a medium sized slightly rattly boxy thing hidden in holly-sprigged paper are far more exciting than a pair of Christmas socks and a gift box of hand-lotions, even if you are happy to receive the socks and hand-lotions!

elQuintoConyo · 24/12/2023 22:04

Fabric bags all the way here. Took half an hour to wrap everything.

Whataretheodds · 24/12/2023 22:07

What's the point in decorating the tree? It only gets taken down?
What's the point in laying the table? The stuff only gets used and has to be washed.

Original poster
Hatewrappingpresents · 24/12/2023 22:08

@TeaKitten - I didn’t (buy ds so many presents) but I can’t really control what other people do. Since my house has been full of boxes and paper for over a week already I’m feeling the grump.

Now for my whinge about cards …

OP posts:
Original poster
Hatewrappingpresents · 24/12/2023 22:09

@Whataretheodds if the tree was up for all of ten seconds I’d absolutely say that was pointless too. As it is it’s a good month so I’ll go with that.

OP posts:
TeaKitten · 24/12/2023 22:10

Hatewrappingpresents · 24/12/2023 22:08

@TeaKitten - I didn’t (buy ds so many presents) but I can’t really control what other people do. Since my house has been full of boxes and paper for over a week already I’m feeling the grump.

Now for my whinge about cards …

I’m with you on the cards, pointless, annoying to display and not even nice to open.

OwlWeiwei · 24/12/2023 22:10

OP, thank you for starting this thread. I came on it to agree with you. I HATE wrapping presents but I've been persuaded by the others. It is exciting to unwrap them and they do look pretty under the tree.

PickledMuffin · 24/12/2023 22:12

Wrapping adds to the excitement! I love unwrapping my gifts.

Candycurrantbun · 24/12/2023 22:12

There doesn't have to be a point in every thing in life. Sometimes it's nice to do pointless stuff, because it's kinda fun to unwrap presents.

Gribbit987 · 24/12/2023 22:14

WashItTomorrow · 24/12/2023 21:53

We don’t tear the paper off. We unwrap it carefully, trying to save the paper. Even the kids do this. We reuse it every year! A little bit gets chucked but mostly it doesn’t. Or we use gift bags that we also reuse.

We do this too. If you buy decent paper you can reuse it. I don’t use sellotape either.

Honeychickpea · 24/12/2023 22:16

purpleme12 · 24/12/2023 21:45

Well it really annoys me when people don't wrap. If my child gets a present unwrapped from someone then I'll always wrap it. Half the joy and excitement is in the unwrapping

Because you made the mistake of teaching him that.

rockpoolingtogether · 24/12/2023 22:16

LuvMyBoyz · 24/12/2023 21:55

My Mum never wrapped presents because she was a war baby and it was considered very wasteful during rationing. There were four of us children and every Christmas morning we’d tip our stockings onto the bed and see everything in it at once. Then we’d go downstairs to four separate piles of unwrapped gifts. With one glance around the room we knew what everyone had got. Of course we didn’t know any better when we were kids. Always grateful for what we got.

But now I just love a pile of wrapped or bagged presents. I love unwrapping them and watching others unwrap theirs. So much more anticipation and fun.

But even then, I would wrap in newspaper

PickledMuffin · 24/12/2023 22:17

@Gribbit987 how do you not use sellotape?! please teach me your skills!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 24/12/2023 22:18

Conceal to reveal, innit?

Offkilter · 24/12/2023 22:21

We didn't get our Santa presents wrapped as kids. I can still remember the excitement.... Trying to take in the whole pile at once, spotting something asked for or something unexpected. Bunty annual propped up on mine, NOW album on my brothers. The presents were always carefully displayed.

Offkilter · 24/12/2023 22:21

We didn't get our Santa presents wrapped as kids. I can still remember the excitement.... Trying to take in the whole pile at once, spotting something asked for or something unexpected. Bunty annual propped up on mine, NOW album on my brothers. The presents were always carefully displayed.

ActuallyChristmas · 24/12/2023 22:22

Hmm, so a gift bag or box is a wrapped present. I use a mix of recyclable wrap, gift bags and boxes. When we had stockings for DC some items were wrapped, some not. If Jo Malone wrapped my gift from my Dad - chosen and obtained by me - then I don’t wrap it again

Pokinganose · 24/12/2023 22:22

ChocolateCinderToffee · 24/12/2023 22:18

Conceal to reveal, innit?

😂yes! Its for the element of surprise or trying to guess what it is before opening them! No surprise if you can see them straight away.

ClottedCreamScone · 24/12/2023 22:23

Because the monkey brain knows that digging out treasure from secret wrappings is excellent

purpleme12 · 24/12/2023 22:25

Honeychickpea · 24/12/2023 22:16

Because you made the mistake of teaching him that.

Edited
Show quote history

Well in don't actually think she's ever had one unwrapped. And she's not commented either way.
It is me that has said I don't like when they're not wrapped. (My post didn't actually mention my child making any comment did it) .
I have never shown my opinion because why would I.
But if a present comes to me for my child unwrapped then I'll wrap it for her without saying anything to the person. Because that's how I prefer it

Stompythedinosaur · 24/12/2023 22:26

We wrap because part of the gift is the experience, and getting a wrapped gift is a really joyful thing (to me at least).

purpleme12 · 24/12/2023 22:28

I take it back she has had a couple unwrapped before. Not a lot. But it's still true that she hasn't commented either way (but I can bet you she prefers them wrapped)

ActuallyChristmas · 24/12/2023 22:32

Oh and wrapping on Christmas Eve is not last minute it’s a tradition for some of us, just as opening presents on Christmas Eve is a different tradition for many European countries

buckeejit · 24/12/2023 22:34

Santa stuff gets put in a sack in our house. I told dh when ds was 5 weeks old that that's how we did it & if he wants it different he'd have to do ALL the wrapping forever.

Dweetfidilove · 24/12/2023 22:34

OrangeryAt · 24/12/2023 21:51

You could extend this to anything though couldn't you? I mean, tomorrow, why bother serving the food in dishes? Why not just stick it on the table in the pans you cooked it in? Save on some washing up.

Exactly!

The one before this was ‘why tidy up for Christmas’?

Before that there was a why shower, why clean, why make bed, why iron?

At this rate we could be going down a hill that has no bottom 🤷🏽‍♀️