A present I vividly remember receiving was the Little Mermaid video. I didn't know it was out yet, my gran gave it to me. I just remember that feeling inside as I opened it and saw the cover. Absolute joy. Watched that film a million times!
One year we didn't get much from our parents as they bought a family computer instead. Good old Packard Bell, Windows 95. So exciting. Had Ecco the Dolphin and that kind of thing and 'The Internet'.
Christmas has always felt so special. On Christmas Eve I still have trouble falling asleep. I'm not even that excited about my own presents. But it's like I can feel this energy, thinking of all the children that are eagerly anticipating that next morning, thinking about Santa.
In the morning I'd always wake my parents, then my brother, then I'd go through to the livingroom myself. Funny, my parents never saw my first reactions as they didn't get up for a bit. Whereas I make sure we are up to see DS reaction to his stocking, it's wonderful. My Dad would come down the hallway about 5/10mins after I got up with the video camera on and I'd do a funny reaction (no dad! While trying to hide). He continued to do this right into my late teens (Santa came til I was 20!). My brother recently put all our video camera footage onto a USB stick so watching childhood Christmases has been wonderful.
I remember the little tin bowls that only came out on Christmas day for the prawn starter. The way my mum lays the table with 2 crackers each (she still lays it all the same now if she's hosting). The smell of coffee from the perculator which only came out on special occasions. The smell of a freshly lit fireplace. Me sorting everyone's presents into piles under the tree. Writing and re-writing my list so it was perfect for Santa and drawing him a picture and being elated at the thought of 'him' seeing it. Having friends over when the tree was up and nestling underneath it pretending to be squirrels. The biscuit box that kept the breakable, good decorations in it. The dogs on Christmas morning getting their presents too. Having to be totally silent during The Queen's Speech. My mum quickly writing down what I got and from which person as I tore open my presents. Going on a walk on Christmas day and saying Merry Christmas to everyone we saw. The year I bought a set of secret presents for my Mum, Dad and bro and scurried through on Christmas morning to lay them out before anyone saw. My DS (8) has told me that he wants my Mum to take him to town to buy secret presents for me and DH this year :)
Our own traditions are: DS bringing his mini bedroom stocking into our bed to open, then us all getting up, I go in livingroom first and start filming, the DS, DH and DDog come in, DS opens main stocking and helps DDog open hers (only child, DDog is treated like a sister with a proper stocking!), DS opens presents from us and DDog, me and DH open our gifts then we get breakfast. Family Christmas walk and say merry Christmas to everyone we see, then get prepped for hosting or for our dish we are taking to my folks if they are hosting. Family arrive and DS plays with his cousins and see what presents they got. Christmas lunch at 1pm, presents then chill! Throughout December we go on multiple walks through the village to look at the lights.
And not a Christmas one, but at midnight on new year's eve we would throw open the door and listen for the boats sounding their horns in the bay a few miles away. I live in the village I grew up in now (moved back 3 years ago) and I love doing this as I know my dad will be doing it too. We spend part of new year's eve with my folks but head home around 8pm.
Ahh thanks for this thread. That was a trip down memory lane. Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. Can you tell?