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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Poll: when do you do presents?

49 replies

siblingrevelryagain · 04/11/2014 06:57

Just curious really!

As a child our Xmas mornings were of the frenzied kind (in a good way)-we all went downstairs to check 'he'd' been, then dived into our piles of presents all at the same time (us three children I mean).

We've pretty much done the same with my kids, which is sometimes difficult keeping tabs on who bought what, but generally feels nice as it's how I've always done.

STBXH's family are the 'one-at-a-time and everyone watch' variety, and I know of others who wait until after breakfast or after lunch.

Which type are you (and if it's the latter, how on earth do you contain the kids and get them to wait with a massive pile of pressies-mine would be too distracted to eat I think!)?

OP posts:

Butterpuff · 04/11/2014 13:46

DesperatelySeekingSanity I think I have to add your evening walk to look at twinkling lights to our Christmas traditions, or maybe a Christmas eve walkabout. I love that.

We always had a sack on our door handle from Santa, whichever of us woke up first would see it full, run to the other one's room and wake them up then jointly drag our sacks of goodies into our parents room and wake them up to open.

Presents from family were opened after Christmas dinner.

Now things have changed as I'm married and don't know what house I will be in at what time. Maybe next year when our baby has arrived we can set up new traditions.

DaisyFlowerChain · 04/11/2014 14:27

We don't do stockings, did them once I think but found it was just tat that filled the small spaces so didn't bother again.

We open from others first in turn (so I can make a quick note for thinkyour) then open the ones from us to each other.

We have breakfast as we go along for those that want it. I get up early to put coffee and the heating on.

SquattingNeville · 04/11/2014 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

disneymum3 · 04/11/2014 15:42

When i was younger we (me and my siblings) did the frenzie present dive. As we got older it started to become much more relaxed and in the end (before we all moved out) we were doing the one at a time thing. Everyone watched what that person got and from whom.

In my house the kids come wake us up. Then we all come downstairs, I make tea/coffee and breakfast. While DH puts on a Christmas film and the kids see what's in there stockings (these are just filled with sweets and chocolates). By the time they are done breakfast is normally ready. After breakfast we open tree presents (from family and friends) this is done one at a time to see who got what and from whom they got it. Then we go visiting DH's family (the ones that live across the road). Then we comeback home and the kids have a mad frenzie at opening there present and sack (sack is filled with stocking filler type gifts) from Santa, then they take it in turns to show us what he brought them. After this we go to dinner at who ever' s turn it is to host's house (we have dinner with my family)

ItsGotBellsOn · 04/11/2014 16:16

I make a cuppa for me and Dh and then kids open stockings and then presents.

We dont do adult presents in or family, so its pretty straightforward and stress free.

I am a bit anal about the kids present opening, though. They take turns to open a present each and if its from someone other than us or 'FC' I write down who it was from and what it was for thank you letters later .

AriaBanjo · 04/11/2014 16:29

Stockings on the bed first things. Then we head downstairs to find Father Christmas presents. The dcs open those presents and Dh & I exchange ours. After that we will open any presents left by family. It is usually now that we start on the chocolate, play with toys, then have breakfast!! In the afternoon we visit family and exchange presents there too!

As a child Dh opened presents after church - he thinks this way is much more fun!!

LokiBear · 04/11/2014 16:58

Stocking in the bedroom on wake up. Then downstairs and dd takes her time opening. Me and DH take it in turns after. DD is 3, for now it is all about her.

lecherrs · 04/11/2014 17:12

Small stockings (about 5 presents designed to entertain DDs when they wake at 6am) are opened in bed. This is just a small selection box to scoff, magazine to read etc etc...

FC presents opened in our bed about 7:30am. Just for DDs but they take turns.

Then presents from us under tree opened after morning showers and breakfast. About 10am. Again as take turns.

Then we go to my parents for lunch. Presents there are opened after lunch and again we take turns.

Presents from extended family opened on Boxing Day.

I think it is just what you are used to. We've always done turn taking but DHs family do the all in one frenzy. Last year PIL didn't wait to open their presents. My DDs thought it terribly rude and I had to quieten their objections. It was very embarrassing!

jamtoast12 · 04/11/2014 20:48

Same as op and I love it! No confusion as everything we give is from Santa. Family presents are always handed to the kids by the giver, even if it means giving before or after Xmas.

CaptainAnkles · 04/11/2014 20:52

Whenever everyone is up in the morning. As soon as we're all awake enough, everyone is given a present to open, then repeat until all gone. Followed by the eating of the selection boxes. I find it amazing that people have a proper breakfast at Christmas

JohnCusacksWife · 04/11/2014 21:36

Christmas stockings are opened in our room generally, with everyone piled on the bed. Then downstairs to see if Santa's been. The kids open their Santa present then and then we stop to get some breakfast, bring it back through and then open anything else that's under the tree and DH and I open ours then too. My mum and dad then come round early afternoon and bring their presents and any from aunties etc and they all get opened while we have champagne & nibbles.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 04/11/2014 21:50

We don't have a proper breakfast, usually there are some croissants on the go and the DCs might have a bit of cereal, but it's all eaten in the living room.

BedPig2013 · 05/11/2014 11:36

Dd will have her milk and banana first while I make a coffee, then she'll have her sticking either on my bed or downstairs depending what time it is, then we'll open a couple of big presents from under the tree when the rest of the family are up and probably save a few others for after breakfast so she doesn't get too overwhelmed.
When we were younger my mum would put our stockings into our bedrooms and we could open them as soon as we woke, we had to wait until 7am for my mum to get up before we could open anything from under the tree. Me and my db used to get up at 5am and those couple of hours waiting for dm to get up felt like the longest two hours in the world!

IssyStark · 05/11/2014 13:19

We do pyjamas from us on Christmas Eve (which are wrapped and under the tree).

Christmas morning, we do stockings (all four of us) in our bed, although as kids get older they might prefer doing it together. We tend to start whenever the boys wake up and we're made a cuppa.

Then checking Father Christmas drank his brandy and the reindeer their carrots, breakfast (always smoked salmon scrambled eggs, bagels, coffee and fizz) before the tree presents which are from us, friends and family (we don't see family at Christmas as we're spread everywhere). These are done in the living room, with the Hely-Hutchinson Carole Symphony on in the background. We limit ourselves to one at a time which the boys, aged 2 and 7 last year, cope with well. The also act as postmen. I make notes of who has given what, and when I know that's everything from a person, I actually write the thank-you note there and then. It's actually very relaxed, with more coffee and more bubbly. Last year I didn't write the letters at the time and it became a millstone around my neck.

If the room is becoming too crowded, we stop, tidy up the paper and create proper stash piles before anything gets lost, and we will just take breaks. Last year DS1 didn't finish opening everything until Boxing Day.

stewierooibos · 16/11/2014 07:32

Dc bring their stockings into my bed first thing. Then wash dress breakfast. Then open the presents under the tree (these are from people not father Christmas) with champagne. Everyone's presents are mixed up under the tree and dc hand the presents out one at a time. Each present is opened before the next is handed out.

antarctic · 16/11/2014 07:42

We do presents as soon as everyone is awake. We do one at a time, although moving quite quickly on to the next one, not making everyone stop and admire for too long.

oldsilver · 16/11/2014 08:54

Stocking first, hung at the chimney or where it would be if we had one and DS can open one of his presents from the tree. Breakfast and wash for DS (and DP) while I get the turkey on.

Then present opening begins. We take it in turns to hand out and sort of do it one at a time in a frenzy. Followed by the annual argument of DP trying to get one of DSs presents out of it's packaging, or trying to work out how it works or just plain taking it over Normally at the time I need to get the roasties on.

This is all done to my carefully collected and selected naff Christmas music, tree chocolate and nibble eating and me gently making my way through a bottle of well diluted sangria .

Lunch at 1pm and then the present opening starts all over again as it also happens to be DS's Birthday

Letthemtalk · 16/11/2014 08:59

When I was little it was a free for all, and I loved it. Now, dmil arrives early, and has been known to wake us on Christmas morning . Dp's family have always done youngest first. Do the youngest person opens all their presents while everyone looks on, thinking hurry up! I hate it, it means that the kids are under pressure to open everything as quickly as possible, no stopping to actually play with anything. So we usually start with dd2 opening one or 2 and then I just tell dd1 to open what she wants and I get stuck in too, while dmil sits with a bit of a cats bum face. Dmil and dp always wait until kids stuff is opened before they open theirs - madness!!

supermariossister · 16/11/2014 09:10

usually in the morning, they have a wrapped gift bag, Santa present( last year was DVD). and outfit on their bed. gift bag contains things to play with/do if they are up too early because Ill usually try to put them off for a bit or it would all be over very quickly.
downstairs is a free for all really. noone waits for others to open but I do have to tell ss to slow down sometimes or he would have opened ten to sd and ds 2 me and dp tend to leave ours so we can watch the dc or do them v slowly.

everydayaschoolday · 16/11/2014 13:27

Same as Whoknows here. The santa bit first off is an excited free-for-all frenzy. Then breakfast. Then friends & relatives presents under the tree are opened one at a time (and noted by me for 'thank yous').

oneofthosedays · 16/11/2014 22:01

We get up around 7-8am, kids bring their stockings into our room and open them while we wake up properly. We then go downstairs and see if FC has been then usually watch the children open their gifts from us. Then it's breakfast, bacon sarnies and bucks fizz and try to get everyone to save tree presents until after we're all dressed.

My parents usually arrive around lunch and I make a start on Xmas dinner whilst the kids play with/put together their new things.

We usually visit PILS late afternoon and open a few more pressies then come home and have a quiet evening with some cheese and nibbles.

SkaterGrrrrl · 18/11/2014 14:06

First thing, still in PJs. We do watch each other open them though.

In laws do presents AFTER LUNCH! Its like some kind of a sick joke.

mumtoone1 · 18/11/2014 14:32

In our house, DS wakes around 6:30am! and thats a boy who was nearly 12 last year! He just loves christmas. I hope we may get to see our pillows until at least 7:30am this year as he slowly gets up later as he approaches 13.

Anyways.. DS comes and gets me and DH up and he waits patiently in the livingroom while I make coffee. He'll open everything thats in the livingroom which are all of the gifts from us, and my side of the family, mum, dad, brother etc..

DS then hands out DH and my presents and we open them. Now he's older and the presents are tiny but far more expensive the whole process takes under an hour :(

We then have breakfast and sit around looking and playing with all the nices things we got.

Around 11am-12pm after washing and putting on our "compulsory" festive jumpers we head round to the inlaws (who live across the road) and we exchange presents with MIL, FIL, BIL, 2xSIL and GPILs. We then play board games and wait for MIL to put out dinner. its a nice day.

bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 18/11/2014 22:45

We are still trying to figure out what works best for us- last year it was a present frenzy but I'm not in a hurry to repeat that!
DHs family always had to have breakfast and be dressed before even seeing if Santa has been and we have begrudgingly carried on this tradition.
After breakfast it is stockings and Santa gifts- I am aiming to try Santa bringing a raffle jar and each child picking a number and opening that gift so each gets one at the same time but it slows it down and they get time to play with each toy before we will move in to the next.
Not quite sure on under the tree gifts yet. DH's family are giving dd's a combined gift and this will probably be given mid morning. Other gifts as and when throughout the morning or when we see family.
Going to MIls for Christmas dinner so will leave around 12-12.30 I think and if there are any presents still left they can be saved until we get home/boxing day.

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