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Christmas

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Original poster

When do you put presents under the tree?

60 replies

pineapplejuiceisyuck · 05/12/2021 18:05

Just that really but applies more to if you have kids. Do you put them under gradually or do you put them under in the night of Xmas Eve?

If you put them gradually, do the kids not question why there are presents under the tree if Santa comes only on Xmas day?

Or if you put them out gradually and the kids question it, what do you say?

OP posts:
Appleseesaw · 05/12/2021 18:11

Christmas Eve. Santa only brings the stocking, but the problem is that they would meddle. One would accidentally rip the wrapping and the other would trample the presents. Best to keep them out of the way. Plus I like the surprise on the day of ten em finding presents under the tree.

snuffykins · 05/12/2021 18:12

Ds is well passed Santa age now, but when he was small, presents from Santa are put out late at night on Christmas Eve.
Presents to/from anyone else, whenever they are wrapped or are given.

FestiveMelts · 05/12/2021 18:17

DCs are Santa age. All gifts are top secret until they're asleep on Christmas Eve, when we bring them down from the attic and "stage" the lounge!

ASimpleLobsterHat · 05/12/2021 18:19

Santa brings stocking presents only. Other presents go under tree on Christmas Eve - I’m too much of a big child and would meddle myself if given half a chance Blush

Helpimfalling · 05/12/2021 18:25

My presents are all wrapped under the tree.

I will add a few extra Xmas eve when they've gone to bed....from Santa.

FrenchyQ · 05/12/2021 18:28

Christmas Eve as my dogs would try and eat them/rip them open.

SickAndTiredAgain · 05/12/2021 18:29

Christmas Eve night, but Santa doesn’t bring them, he only brings the stocking. I just always liked as a child coming down to a tree surrounded with presents that weren’t there before, even though I knew my parents put them there.

ChubbyMorticia · 05/12/2021 18:29

Christmas Eve, or the night before Solstice, depending on when adult daughter is able to be here.

We have kids ranging from 8 - adult, plus two dogs and two cats. Gifts/wrapping wouldn't survive under the tree if they were out any sooner.

KaptainKaveman · 05/12/2021 18:32

Never. I can't afford any.

Whataday21 · 05/12/2021 18:35

Xmas eve in case we get burgled.

KeyLimeFly · 05/12/2021 18:36

Christmas Eve. They’d get fiddled with and wrecked otherwise. Father Christmas only does small stocking presents.

MaryDoll84 · 05/12/2021 18:39

About 1am on Christmas morning. Santa brings all the presents here, even though the eldest two don't believe anymore.

HeyMicky · 05/12/2021 18:42

As they get wrapped in the week before Xmas. It's nice to see the pile growing and it includes things from their grandparents abroad, secret Santa posted by friends etc

Father Christmas only brings the stockings

cloverleafy · 05/12/2021 18:43

As they're ready - though the tree doesn't go up until 10-14 days before Christmas, so not before then. In our house Santa only brings stocking contents. Everything under the tree is from a person.

soundsystem · 05/12/2021 18:45

Presents from wider family go under the tree as they're wrapped and ours to each other (me and DH to each other and the kids to us and each other but not ours to them if that makes sense) then in Christmas Eve Santa presents and the ones from us to the children

Suzi888 · 05/12/2021 18:47

Christmas Day here, around 3am. Xmas Wink

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 05/12/2021 18:47

DS is 2 so nothing will go under until he's gone to bed Christmas eve as he is liable to grab and open when DH and I aren't looking 🤦‍♀️

If it makes a difference, growing up mum and dad gradually put family gifts under the tree and then the stuff that Father Christmas brought (we were told mum and dad got the presents and sent them to Father Christmas to deliver, so DB and I understood he was a special postman) was delivered after we'd gone to bed Christmas eve night.

wonkylegs · 05/12/2021 18:49

Gradually as I wrap them as it means I don't have to hide them.
Santa only brings a small stocking, most presents come from us so it's easy.

Cuwins · 05/12/2021 18:54

When I was younger at my parents it was Christmas morning, we all helped bring them down from my parents room and put them under- it was part of the fun. Only stocking came from FC rest were from parents and other relatives.
However I think they might have been earlier if it wasn't for my mums last minute wrapping habits- she was (still is!) often still wrapping on Xmas morning and the fact we had a cat who couldn't be trusted to either not investigate or not pee on them!

DockOTheBay · 05/12/2021 19:00

We put them on Christmas eve for 2 reasons:

  1. It makes it more exciting when you come down and see them on Christmas morning
  2. Our kids are small and it doesn't feel fair to have the presents there but they can't open them.

If you do decide to put them out and they ask why the presents are under the tree, those are presents from mum, Dad, grandparents etc. Only the stocking comes from FC and obviously that doesn't get put there until the night before Christmas

AutumnAnn · 05/12/2021 19:00

We put stuff under the tree gradually throughout December, goes under as soon as it's wrapped, we don't bother with the whole Santa charade.

youvemademyshitlist · 05/12/2021 19:05

Depends what the presents are. Last year, for example, I bought my brother in law a bacon curing kit. That went under the tree on Christmas morning otherwise I think the dog would have opened it Grin

LostInTheColonies · 05/12/2021 19:07

Christmas Eve, even when there aren't any young(ish) children around. Always lots of last-minute wrapping, people pinching each other's sellotape, and adults scurrying around the place hiding from each other Grin. It's part of the fun. We travel overseas every other year for Xmas (usually!!!) and even then have presents hidden in bags for hiding and wrapping after arrival. I love it, and can't wait to do it again.

drpaddington · 05/12/2021 19:11

All on Christmas Eve after the kids are asleep

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/12/2021 19:12

Christmas Eve. It’s a nice moment.