Does anyone else open a present on Christmas Eve?

[asouthwoldmummy]

Hi, does anyone else open a present on Christmas Eve? Every year we each open one present before DS goes to bed, only a small stocking-filler sort, main presents have to wait until Christmas day of course. This drives my mum mad! When we were little the Christmas sweets and mince pies weren't even allowed out until Christmas day.

For us, Christmas starts as soon as DH gets home from work on Christmas Eve.

[dolphin13]

Ours get a present on Christmas eve containing:
A new pair of PJs
A chocolate bar with personal message from santa printed on the wrapper.
A Christmas story book.

[BoobyMcLeaky]

When we were little we used to open presents from mum and dad on Christmas eve, then pressies from Santa on Christmas morning. We open a small stocking filler now (Dh and I that is). It drives MIL mad

[GrimmaTheNome]

DD is another who gets new PJs or nightie.

[dilbertina]

Generally I have a ruthless dc underwear sort-out just before Christmas and chuck everything beyond it's best. Then I give dc one parcel each on Christmas Eve. They get whatever is required in the way of new underwear, socks, nightwear etc and a book.

Frankly underwear is never going to be that thrilling but getting it on Christmas Eve seems to help!

[MmeLindt]

Yes, DH is German so the Christkind brings the presents from the German relatives on xmas eve, and new pjs (stole that one from MN last year).

[prettybird]

We have Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve at my parents (Danish tradition, so we have the Danish Christmas pudding of rice pudding - more like a sweet risotto, with whipped cream folded through it, chopped almonds added with one whole almond; whoever gets the whole almond gets a wee prize), stay over and open some presents there (full Danish tradition would have been Christmas presents on Christmas Eve; I think my granny used to allow one present to be opened) and then we go home to open the rest of our presents and have our own intimate Christmas dinner (pheasant, so quick to roast) with traditional British Christmas pudding.

The best of both worlds! :)

[SuePurblybilt]

We do and I try to steer in the direction of something to do like a puzzle or a game. We also do a treasure hunt for the grown ups and I think that'll replace the one present opening this year for DC too. I'll do new jammies too but not as a present.

[SparkleSoiree]

You know, we never have but I would like to allow myself to do it!

Maybe this year we will..

[meltedmarsbars]

Yes, dh is Czech, their whole christmas is over by the 25th!

[tulpe]

QuoththeRaven - what a lovely tradition to start with you and DH. I may be stealing that....... :)

We usually have new pjs and a new christmas themed book for DCs. Sometimes a DVD too (from my DSis)

DH is dutch so their tradition is to open gifts on Christmas Eve after dinner. The PJ thing is a compromise of sorts I guess.

[onadietcokebreak]

Can't remember what we did as kids-sisters birthday is christmas day so usually we celebrated that Xmas eve.

New pjs will be a tradition started this year. Xmas book given in the lead up

[QuoththeRaven]

DH and I have our own little opening on xmas eve. Christmas day itself is always quite hectic so we open our presents to each other after DS has gone to bed and we've settled down with a drink and some nibbles. Only started doing this last year, but we get bombarded with so much on xmas day its nice to have some quiet time.

We're probably going to see in laws on christmas eve so will open some presents then too, but Christmas morning is strictly for DS at the moment (he takes so long to open presents hehe) with dh and i only opening our stockings on the day (plus any other family gifts)

[Ekka]

Dp's family are German and they always did presents on Xmas eve, whereas we never had anything until Xmas morning. So in a compromise in our household Santa does an early delivery of Oma and Opa's presents on Xmas eve and then we have the rest of the presents on Xmas day. We also have a turkey crown on Xmas eve as per Dh's family and a goose for lunch on Xmas day. Luckily I enjoy Xmas cooking!!!!

[serenity]

DCs have one each on Christmas Eve - usually an annual or book of some sort to read in bed to help them wind down

[The3Bears]

blueberry its also my birthday xmas eve :)

[blueberryboybait]

No - it's my birthday and the next day is Christmas and never the twain shall meet!

[Beamur]

My Mum and I always opened one present each on Xmas Eve. DP and his family are afternoon openers - which I cannot get my head round and have not compromised on! I open mine and so does DD in the morning, he can open his later if he wants

[Takver]

(Should say they are not particular presents, just a small one chosen from under the tree - though often I was 'pointed towards' a particular one as a child with something to wear on Christmas day in it.)

[Takver]

Yes, as a child there was always one present for Christmas eve, then another Christmas morning.

We do the same for dd if we are at home/my parents, because we open presents in the afternoon, but not at ILs as they open them in the morning anyway.

Things have slackened over the years, though - my Dad's family exchanged gifts after the Queen's speech (listened to standing up), when I was a child it was after all the washing up had been done from Christmas lunch. These days it is after the meal and washing up comes later :)

[The3Bears]

We let ds open one just before bed and say the elves must have left it usually pjs and a christmas book :)

[Jcee]

Mine and DP's families live 200 miles apart so we have to have a presents exchange with the family we are not spending Christmas with - we alternative every year - and to me it always feels funny opening presents a few days before Christmas.

[pointydog]

No.

We used to make party hats on Christmas eve when the dds were little. That kept them busy.

Getting a present on christmas eve is like giving a present to the birthday child's sibling. And I am agin that too.

[knitternovice]

yes we do. one from under the tree.

[whatagradeA]

We used to have a little present on Christmas eve with our Christmas dinner (another family tradition!)

With my own DC (4 and nearly 2) we have started having new pjs as Christmas eve present, partly as incentive to go to bed!

[CakeCuresAll]

bugger, first time using the strike through thing - epic fail. Didn't think it had to be every word