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Christmas

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

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Original poster

When do you open your presents?

79 replies

Minidoghugs · 07/10/2017 10:54

I do a stocking as mentioned on the Santa thread. Dd used to wake really early for that and we have always got up early anyway to let the dog out. Then we open presents after breakfast. So all the present opening is done pretty early.
I have a family member who does the stocking but makes her dc wait till after dinner, for main presents which seems ages, but I guess it spreads out the fun a bit.

OP posts:

YellowMakesMeSmile · 07/10/2017 11:04

We open first thing and breakfast is treat food as we go. Then we cook whilst new things are played with.

I have friends that grew up with the whole opening after lunch who hated it so haven't repeated with their own children.

RaindropsAndSparkles · 07/10/2017 11:08

Stockings when they wake. Presents after mass with smoked salmon and champagne. We also fit in DS's birthdays presents at 6pm

Hedgyhoggy · 07/10/2017 11:48

As soon as everyone is awake. Don't know how waiting til after lunch fits in with the excitement created by wondering if Santa has come yet and I wonder what he's brought us? However, I'm not very restrained. Do what suits you there is no wrong or right way. Though I do have a friend who thinks not to wait is common as is calling Santa, 'Santa' 🙄 Bah humbug to her

dementedpixie · 07/10/2017 11:50

stockings first thing upstairs. Presents after we go downstairs with breakfast after

overnightangel · 07/10/2017 11:53

Generally wait to December 25th !
(Sorry, got zero sorted for Christmas yet this year)

Whisky2014 · 07/10/2017 11:54

After our lunch.

Whisky2014 · 07/10/2017 11:55

Oh but we are all adults. No kids yet. When I was a kid it was straight after we woke up.

dementedpixie · 07/10/2017 11:56

I don't understand people who wait until after lunch/ dinner and just leave them sitting unopened for hours. We don't have the main Christmas dinner until 5/6pm so it'd be a long time to wait

mintbiscuit · 07/10/2017 11:58

Santa presents as soon as awake. All other presents after lunch.

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 07/10/2017 11:59

I'm with hedgey. The dc race down stairs and open all. I hold back some gifts from us to open in between courses in the meal to stretch it out

Bornfreebutinbiscuits · 07/10/2017 12:00

Demented it's very restrained isn't it. Very victoriana.. The dc racing down stairs then a sharp, no children sit and look at them, no touching for five hours. Sit and be thankful.

gillybeanz · 07/10/2017 12:01

Get up, quick brekky then open pressies.
When dc were little we'd open before breakfast as they used to see if He'd been You can't then say leave them until after breakfast.
Always used to leave main present in another room, under the second tree and say FC must have left it in the wrong room They opened this after dinner.

PressPaws · 07/10/2017 12:03

All Santa presents in the morning. They have family presents through the day, which spreads out the fun.

Bumbumtaloo · 07/10/2017 12:04

As soon as we get up. We leave their stockings at the end of their beds but they literally grab it and come running into the living room. I’m generally up thanks to insomnia so as soon as I hear one of them I wake DH.

When DH was little they had stockings as soon as they woke and had to wait until after dinner for the other presents. When I was younger we had everything as I woke and we have just gone with how my family did it.

Blackandpurple · 07/10/2017 13:05

Stockings and presents when all are up!

lostlalaloopsy · 07/10/2017 13:35

As soon as we're up!! It's a bit of a free for all tbh. I'd like them to open all Santa gifts first, have breakfast and then come back to open family gifts under the tree. I doubt this idea will catch on in this house!!

Ginslinger · 07/10/2017 13:37

stockings when people wake up and then presents after lunch - there's enough in stockings from Santa to keep small children happy until after lunch

peachy94 · 07/10/2017 13:37

First thing we always did growing up before church so we could brag to the other kids about what we'd got we used to go to my grandmas on Boxing Day so that spread them out abit. Last year DS (3.5) spent most of the day pottering through them opening some things and playing with them then moving onto more think this year may be more of a rip them all open in one go affair though then the rest of the day will be spent building all his Lego and trying to stop DD eating it

Austentatious · 07/10/2017 13:38

Mine like to eke out their gifts and save them😂 It can take a week to open them all! At least they play with everything as it is opened. Stockings demolished within half an hour upstairs first though. They're not that odd.

Oly5 · 07/10/2017 13:39

First thing, why would I want to make my kids wait?
We have bacon sandwiches in the middle

mrsRosaPimento · 07/10/2017 13:39

Stocking presents for dcs in the morning. Grown ups cook huge turkey dinner in the morning. Presents after turkey lunch. I'd miss the dcs opening their presents otherwise.

mrsRosaPimento · 07/10/2017 13:42

We don't get any presents from extended family or grandparents as we're no contact on both sides. So the dcs get a smaller pile than most.

ClashCityRocker · 07/10/2017 13:48

Always used to be stockings as soon as we woke up as kids - even if it was half four in the morning! The plan was that they would keep us occupied until a more civilised hour - we were forbidden to wake up mum and dad until 7pm.

Then downstairs to see the tree presents. We would then, cruelly, be made to get washed, dressed in our Christmas day outfits and have breakfast before the opening began.

Mum used to insist on a full English for everyone! God knows why as we would have Christmas lunch mid afternoon.

As an adult we open them in our dressing gowns first thing after a cigarette and coffee!

MrsPworkingmummy · 07/10/2017 13:57

When DD, DH and I wake up, we go into the lounge and watch DD open her presents. DH and I then open ours. We have breakfast, then begin to prepare lunch - TV and toy playing happen throughout the day. Various family members visit from lunchtime so we open those presents as and when people arrive x

Butterymuffin · 07/10/2017 14:02

First thing on Christmas Day. Have never understood the whole waiting till later in the day idea. Surely you just end up with whiny kids for 6 hours? It's great to teach kids patience, restraint and all that but it seems a particularly unkind way to do so and there are another 364 days in the year to teach them that.

We take a break for breakfast if needed part way through. Bacon and egg sandwiches and cava. Coffee is put on as soon as we come downstairs so is available throughout.

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