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Christmas

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Original poster

We did presents one at a time and it was nice

53 replies

TinfoilTwat · 25/12/2022 19:34

We do stockings early, and then tree presents from family once everyone is up and dressed, lunch is ready, everything is a bit tidy. Usually we divide into piles and then all open at once. I end up sitting there watching everyone else and forgetting to open anything! This year we went round in a circle and opened one at a time so everyone could watch and enjoy it being opened. It was fab! Only dh and me and the kids, so no extended family to impress. Everyone liked it and we're adopting it going forward.

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 25/12/2022 19:35

That's how we've always done it! I've always enjoyed it. Feels like it prolongs anticipation and gives a chance to see what others have got.

Oblomov22 · 25/12/2022 19:41

Always done this.

Cuwins · 25/12/2022 19:49

We hand out presents one at a time so everyone can see what other people get. Have always done the same and love it as I enjoy the giving part too. I think as a child it helped teach me to enjoy giving as I could see the enjoyment as people opened my presents

ComtesseDeSpair · 25/12/2022 20:05

My family do this. In 2019 my parents bought me 224 (I shit you not) presents though, and that was an excruciating afternoon.

But I can definitely see the merits also in everyone opening alongside altogether, especially if you’re with extended family and there’s a lot of pressure to make your face look as though you love your gifts.

ShaunaTheSheep · 25/12/2022 20:21

We do this. So nice to see what everyone receives, how it is appreciated, and allows space for 'thank yous'.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 25/12/2022 20:28

We do this, always have done. It's much nicer

ChittyChittyBoomBoom · 25/12/2022 20:31

Yes we’ve always done it this way too. We tried it the other way and it felt too chaotic 🙈. It’s nice to see what everyone has got plus it helps me remember what ‘thank yous’ need directing, where!

AuntieMarys · 25/12/2022 20:31

Yes always done this. Hate a free for all

MassiveSalad22 · 25/12/2022 20:32

@ComtesseDeSpair 224??? you can’t just drop that in with no explanation 😂😂 must know more!

Floralnomad · 25/12/2022 20:33

That’s how we’ve been doing it for years , it’s much better but just takes a fair while .

Cuwins · 25/12/2022 20:36

Floralnomad · 25/12/2022 20:33

That’s how we’ve been doing it for years , it’s much better but just takes a fair while .

Yes ours basically took all the time between lunch (about 12:30) and Christmas dinner (about 5pm) minus 90mins for the baby to nap!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/12/2022 20:36

We do this. It’s so fun to see what people get and guess what it might be.

Natsku · 25/12/2022 20:37

That's how we do it, its much nicer, calmer, and more enjoyable as you can see reactions. Was even better in my family growing up as my mum would write clues on the gift tags and we'd read them outloud first and try to guess and everyone else would shout suggestions, often silly ones. I'm no good at thinking of clues though so I don't do that and just feel bad about it.

Pearls1234 · 25/12/2022 20:37

Forgive my ignorance but what other way is there to do it? I’ve never known any different than what you’ve described.

Were you all just grabbing presents at once before?!

Knockagain · 25/12/2022 20:37

As a child I use to hate this 😁, pure torture!

Honeyroar · 25/12/2022 20:37

My SIL’a family do that. I found it incredibly boring, but I only had one present and the main family members had loads. I personally think it’s better having everyone open one each at a time.

cantsing · 25/12/2022 20:38

Much nicer

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 25/12/2022 20:41

Knockagain · 25/12/2022 20:37

As a child I use to hate this 😁, pure torture!

Yup!! Father Christmas was incredibly generous when we were little, to the point that the massive stash would be spun out every day even until New Year's Day! It was sooo painful! Looking back I (think) I'm glad as it was a nice distraction from the darkest time of the year and it didn't all end with a bump on Christmas Day but I can also remember the agony of 'It's not your turn/that's enough presents for now' etc etc

Mumof3girlsandaboy · 25/12/2022 20:54

Floralnomad · 25/12/2022 20:33

That’s how we’ve been doing it for years , it’s much better but just takes a fair while .

Same here

SnarkyBag · 25/12/2022 20:55

Pearls1234 · 25/12/2022 20:37

Forgive my ignorance but what other way is there to do it? I’ve never known any different than what you’ve described.

Were you all just grabbing presents at once before?!

Why the faux confusion? I think it’s quite obvious how it could be done differently even if you’ve only done it one way your whole life 🙄

MargaretThursday · 25/12/2022 20:58

I'm glad as it was a nice distraction from the darkest time of the year and it didn't all end with a bump on Christmas Day

We do that by having:
Stockings first thing
After lunch present from people who are here on the day
Boxing day: presents from other people (followed by thank you letter writing)
Then a present a day (we call them "tree presents") until they're back at school.

I think presents one at a time would end in tears in our house.
Dd1 and ds would hate the pressure of people watching and how to react.
Dd2 this year decided she loved the wrapping paper and wanted to unwrap it carefully and reuse it for craft things, so each present took an age to unwrap. That would also have had dd1 and ds getting frustrated.
It would also underline if anyone had less presents (age and godparent related normally) for which they normally have a gentleman's agreement of it being "luck of the draw" and ignoring that it happens.

user143677433 · 25/12/2022 21:00

We’ve always done it this way. I love seeing people’s reactions to what they have got.

For anyone who prefers doing it the other way, what is the attraction? I assume there are real benefits otherwise we would all do it the same way 😅. I assume it is more exciting, tearing into everything? And you don’t have to pretend you like something if you don’t? But do you actually remember what you got from whom?

Fuwari · 25/12/2022 21:01

This isn't a novel idea OP! We've always done it that each person has one gift to open at the same time. That way, no pressure on everyone watching you but at the same time done slowly enough for everyone to say thank you and see the gifts they've given being appreciated. There were only 3 of us and maybe 6 gifts each but it still took about half an hour.

Autumninnewyork · 25/12/2022 21:02

ComtesseDeSpair · 25/12/2022 20:05

My family do this. In 2019 my parents bought me 224 (I shit you not) presents though, and that was an excruciating afternoon.

But I can definitely see the merits also in everyone opening alongside altogether, especially if you’re with extended family and there’s a lot of pressure to make your face look as though you love your gifts.

Good grief, what on earth did they get you?? I’m not sure I have 224 possessions

TheChosenTwo · 25/12/2022 21:03

We do it the complete opposite way, we all just dive in - I usually sit next to the tree and start handing the presents out and they get opened as and when the recipient sees fit. I hate anyone watching me at the best of times let alone having 6 faces staring at me looking for a reaction and then having to make an individual comment about it to them (especially when the gift might not have been from any of them), the idea makes me cringe!!!
Everyone’s different!