What’s another tradition for opening gifts?

Jewellmartin
by Jewellmartin

In our family, when Santa’s gifts have been passed out, we have someone play a second Santa by wearing a Santa hat. Then Santa gives one gift to someone. Everybody stops to ooh and ahh over that present, then there is another gift passed out. I started this when hubby and I were so poor we bought our sons’ gifts At Sears for jeans and Dollar General for toys. It made the gifts seem like more. Now our sons do this with the grandchildren and us. What does your family do? ☺️

  5 answers
  • Betty Albright-Bistrow Betty Albright-Bistrow on Dec 13, 2018

    My family has for many years had this tradition. Before we open gifts & have refreshments, we sit around the room in a circle, and each person takes a turn saying what they are most thankful for. It is a wonderful family tradition and one that we love to do! Also, when the kids are little it is fun to have someone go up on the roof and act as "Santa & his reindeer" up on the roof. Then after all that noise on the roof, Santa comes in and passes out gifts. Another fun way we celebrate Christmas.

    • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Dec 13, 2018

      Betty, we have never had Santa to hand out gifts, just his helpers. I can imagine the magic of that. Thanks, ☺️

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Dec 13, 2018

    Hi Jewell,

    When Everyone was either staying or came over and Santa's Stockings had all been opened, gifts given and received and Christmas dinner been had and 40 winks taken, between then and Tea time I would bring out "Pass the Parcel" This was great fun and full of cheap but useful items and sweets,nuts and sometimes money. Everyone looked forward to see who got what! Sometimes I would add a few chores like make a cup of tea or collect all the rubbish up just to make it more fun! Oh If I only had half the energy I had then..........................Best Christmas wishes...

    • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Dec 13, 2018

      My adult church group played Pass the Parcel, with extra crazy rules. It was , and each person brought a $10 gift. We always have a couple of extra gifts just in case. Thanks for the family idea. ☺️

  • Landsharkinnc Landsharkinnc on Dec 13, 2018

    Christmas EVE was always special for me, I got to open ONE present under the tree ( and it's easy to tell which ones are BOOKS!! ) ... I'd read under the covers with a flashlight until I heard my parents start to fill the stockings! and then I knew it was REALLY Christmas!

  • Pamela Pamela on Dec 13, 2018

    Hi ! We set some Christmas morning " rules " ! Kids were not allowed to touch anything under the tree , before the parents were awake. Kids can't wake us until 7:30 !!!( Lots of times we didn't get all the putting together of toys and wrapping done until 3-4 am ! ) this might seem hard for the kids to sit staring at the tree for an hour or 2 before they can wake us , but the excitement and expectations built up .They were allowed to open 1 gift from their stocking while waiting . Then at 7:30 we would turn on the tv , to put on the yule log with Christmas music. First we would open gifts in our stockings , Then one of the kids would pass out a present to each person, to open Then we would each show each other what we got before the next gift for each of us was handed out. Then we would have a special Christmas breakfast . Merry Christmas !!!

    • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Dec 13, 2018

      I don’t know if I could have waited! My last real Santa Christmas was when I was eight. My bedroom was next to the living room. I heard noises and peeked long enough to see Daddy putting a swing set together in the dining room. My sisters and I woke up at 4:30 am that year. Merry Christmas! ☺️

  • Russbow Russbow on Dec 13, 2018

    My black lab at the time when we had youngsters, was super well trained, by me, and Knew all by name with a hand signal to help. The dog delivered each gift, if she could handle the shape and size, to the recipeant. When all were gone, the last box was for HER, and when she realized that was for her, she would tear into the wrappings and box with a vengence to get the food treats inside. Quite fun.

    • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Dec 13, 2018

      Wow, Russbow! You have some dog and family, too! Thanks for the memory. ☺️