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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:
BaconAndAvocado · 05/12/2021 19:16

Tradition here is I put them under the tree on the last day of term so the DCs see them when they get in, so usually about a week before Christmas.

elQuintoConyo · 05/12/2021 19:25

Christmas Eve once kids are in bed.

We'll put gifts for others under the tree during the week or so before Xmas, and then pass them on when we meet.

DappledThings · 05/12/2021 20:05

This must be the 10th thread this year already. People do it differently.

We do presents under tree whenever they are ready and wrapped. FC only brings stockings, nothing else. Lots of people do nothing under till Xmas Eve, lots do family presents before and then more on Xmas Eve. There are lots of ways round.

For what it's worth neither of my DC have ever seemed put out by seeing presents and having to wait to open them. It is how both DH and I had it as children. I only knew about the FC brings everything/nothing under tree till Xmas Eve thing till I was on MN.

Shmithecat2 · 05/12/2021 20:06

Xmas eve, after a marathon wrapping session.

Ikeameatballs · 05/12/2021 20:08

Christmas Eve for a few reasons:
The kids would meddle
The cats would shred the wrapping paper
It’s DS’s bday in the few days before Xmas and I feel it would somehow take the shine off his bday if his Xmas presents were waiting for him.

FuzzyPenguin · 05/12/2021 20:10

All the presents for people who don’t live in the house go under the tree once it’s up, so they are easy to get to when we see people in the run up. If we get given presents they go under the tree when we receive them.

The presents for the house come down Christmas Eve, although Santa doesn’t bring them everyone can see them on top of my wardrobe at the moment! Santa brings a small sack of bits which he leaves by the fireplace Christmas eve.

Original poster
pineapplejuiceisyuck · 05/12/2021 20:15

Thanks for the reply everyone. The stockings are only from FC is interesting. Didn't think of this!

And apologies if there have been other threads on this - I wasn't on here yesterday and didn't see it and there's been none on the active tab.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 05/12/2021 20:20

Once I’ve wrapped them or been given them

Santa brings small pressie and stocking

Anything under the tree comes from us friends or family

Changechangychange · 05/12/2021 20:23

Presents from family go under there whenever we receive them (usually a week or so before Christmas). Santa presents “appear” overnight.

I agree that if Santa presents appear on 3rd December, most children would ask some questions.

LadyCatStark · 05/12/2021 20:37

Christmas Eve this year as we have a puppy! Previously some would appear under the tree and some would be from Santa but DS is 12 and not bothered about keeping up the pretence.

MrsPear · 05/12/2021 22:28

Tree presents are the big stuff from us and family - we have always told our children they can only expect a present from us and anything else is a bonus.
That being said they go under on Christmas Eve as we have a tiny home and they will get knocked / trampled on.

Timeisavirtue · 05/12/2021 23:03

Presents from us and to rest of the family are under the tree already or as and when we’ve wrapped them. Santa’s presents go on the sofa in our house as we have a massive one so it’s easy to spread them out. 😂

YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 05/12/2021 23:04

I always remember the feeling of awe when I would go to bed with an empty tree and wake up to it full of gifts. So I carried that over for my boys. Even now when they are all well past the "believing in Santa" stage its still done the same. They go to bed with an empty tree and wake up to a full one. My oldest son who now has a son carries on the same tradition. Empty tree until Christmas Morning. (this excludes if anyone comes by with a gift, that would go under but that is never very many gifts before Christmas Day).

CoodleMoodle · 05/12/2021 23:18

Christmas Eve here, mostly because DS is only 3 and would be too tempted! He's a nightmare for his advent calendar so he wouldn't be able to resist poking the presents. Before he was born and we only had DD, I could've put them out whenever because she's very sensible.

Saying that, I was sensible like DD when I was a kid, and DM still didn't put presents under the tree until Christmas Eve. I remember one day she did it a few days early and the excitement was far too much for me to handle (age 7 or so, like my DD is). I remember going to open the corner of one to take a peek and then thought better of it, but only just! So I don't do it at all.

Santa only brings stockings here, everything under the tree is from us/family. Part of the enjoyment of Xmas Eve for me is bringing them all downstairs when the DC are in bed, and trying to fit everything underneath.

mafted · 05/12/2021 23:21

Presents we get from family and friends before Christmas go under the tree a few days before and get opened on Boxing Day.
I don't like leaving them out for long because my Grandparents used to and got burgled one year.
Father Christmas fills sacks left out by the children, even the older ones now 22 and 18! DH and I usually leave our gifts for each other in the living room on Christmas Eve too.

LBOCS2 · 05/12/2021 23:34

As they get wrapped. I can't be doing with hiding them all over the place and I love having the tree with presents all around it. Plus Santa only brings stockings in our house.

Also, I don't label our gifts, I just remember who they're for (and I'm excellent at working out what things are by shaking them). So the DC can poke them as much as they like; it's as likely they're looking at their great uncle's socks as it is that they've found something for them 😁

slaybell · 05/12/2021 23:40

Christmas Eve.

Santa brings all the presents here but even if he just did stocking DS3 would obliterate the lot if we tried putting them there any earlier.

Stopsnowing · 05/12/2021 23:43

Xmas eve for burglars and for greater effect

FindingMeno · 05/12/2021 23:49

Christmas Eve.
The dog can't be trusted.

2319inprogress · 06/12/2021 00:00

Wow I didn't realise how weird we are 😂

Stockings appear at the fireplace but no presents until they follow a treasure hunt around the house finishing in the front room where the presents from us have appeared...

Presents from visitors come with the visitors then after visitors have left presents from other people appear (no treasure hunt this time 😂)

Original poster
pineapplejuiceisyuck · 06/12/2021 08:50

Ooh the treasure hunt sounds good. What other traditions do you do? I'm always so rubbish at these things!

OP posts:
LowlyTheWorm · 06/12/2021 09:11

Presents from other people outside the household go under the tree. I sometimes put presents I’ve wrapped FOR other people next to the tree too to make it look nice.

On Xmas Eve the childrens presents from us go in specific positions on the lounge floor in front of the fireplace with their stockings laid along the top. Presents from hubby and I to ourselves then get brought through in a quiet moment on Xmas day and we unwrap them with each other to see what the other has bought for themselves. We usually get a wee few bits FOR each other too but only £10-20 worth.
Tree presents are done after breakfast. Lounge presents first thing!

Equimum · 06/12/2021 09:55

All presents appear overnight in time for Christmas morning. My parents did this and maintained it until we were adults, and even at that stage, it felt a little bit magical to come down to a pile of gifts.

idontlikealdi · 06/12/2021 10:04

Christmas Eve. Ddog never mind the kids likes to open presents.

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