Present Opening Etiquette

SugarSpun

We go to my parents' for Christmas, so there'll be my parents, my brother (20), Husband, Baby Daughter and me. We'll all go downstairs, where someone has obligingly separated out all the presents into separate piles (I've never found out who does it and it's never done before I go to bed). We'll have civilised breakfast of eggs benedict then open gifts. We all scatter to our respective piles but take unstructured turns opening so we can see what others are getting.

Small Daughter is only going to be 4 1/2 months old so will be let loose with the wrapping paper and given one gift at a time (getting 3 from me from the Tesco glitch and that's it) over the day and beyond. That should take us to lunchtime and we will all curl up and read our Christmas books/watch TV/visit relatives in the afternoon.

DaisyMoo

As a kid in our house, the youngest person in the house would hunt around for one present for everyone. We would then open the presents in age order. When everyone had opened their first present, the the youngest would randomly select a present and distribute it (sometimes with the help of a specially appointed helper elf - usually Mum!) This would continue in a random fashion until almost all of the presents were given out. The helper elf would also ensure that one present for each person was kept to one side so that everyone had their last present to open just like the first - this meant that people with less presents did not feel left out and had not opened all of their presents before everyone else. This method can take a while but its only for 1 day a year and its worth it to see everyones face when they open the present that you have spent ages searching for!

moneysavingyvonne

we let the kids open theirs first and undo all the boxes for them, then whilst they are playing we all open ours. One person will open all of theirs from one person i.e. i would open all my presents from my sister, then my brother would after i have finished, then we all open all from the next person, but it means we can drag it out in between cooking and getting drinks etc and can see what everyone can get.

jazzypinkpuppet

It's nice to read other peoples traditions, the children wake us up early and we go down stairs to see what Father Christmas has bought them, then they go wild and open all their presents in their sacks with great excitement, shrills of happiness and wrapping paper being ripped off at top speed.
Presents from other people are given out after breakfast, this is where they take their time a bit and I make a note of who bought what for thankyou notes.
I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do it, it is just what works for you and your family.

shiningdove

This is the first chrismas out of my family home and in with my boyfriend.. so its probably going to be.. you open yours i'll watch .. i'll open mine you watch kinda thing.. but as a kid we just all got in there opening all presents apart from the ones from different people. e.g. grandma, uncle bob.. we used to watch eachother whilst mum wrote down what was brought and by who so we could write our thankyou letters.

Kylie

I am a little worried about the tree and presents this year. I have a new kitten who has a thing for chewing and shredding... anything. If the tree survives until Christmas day, the presents sure as h*** won't.

Cute, but naughty.

Years before OH & me take turns. Once we have kids he is going to encourage a "christmas frenzy" - I know it.

DaisyMoo

Kylie wrote: »

I am a little worried about the tree and presents this year. I have a new kitten who has a thing for chewing and shredding... anything. If the tree survives until Christmas day, the presents sure as h*** won't.

You can buy a special apple scented spray from your local vet / pet store and spray a fine mist over the presents you dont want naughty kitty to paw at. It's harmless but gives a scent that cats dont like very much so they leave things alone (also good for spraying on legs of furniture to stop them using table legs as scratching posts)

I used it in previous years and it worked a treat - but i also put a present under the tree for kitty, that I didn't spray but put some cat nip under the wrapping paper - that one didn't last til Christmas Day!!

pennyocs

in my family 5 of us, me and oh, ds 17,ds 10 and dd 3 we usually wake very early 6am all presents are in piles for each person and kids generally open a few then watch each other open a few.
then later on my parents,brother and family,neice and family, all arrive at my house and one person takes turns to give out gifts while everyone watches.
then they all go home apart from my parents who stay for lunch.
about 4pm my parents go home and we spend the evening playing with all the new toys.

MrsE_2

alyssa_liss wrote: »

we open them one gift per person a time but theres not alot of us, or any young ones

We do that too.
We dish them all out & then take turns opening.

Counting_Pennies_2

Christmas Day is so difficult to get right to please everyone. Everyone has their own dreams as to how it will play out, and inevitably someone will get anxious regardless of the routine followed because it isn't the way they would do it.

I come from a family who insisted on giving household objects for presents, toasters, crockery for the adults, duvets and towels for the younger members etc would be opened with fixed surprise on faces, it really was quite an unenjoyable time. Then the lunch would be a stressed rushed affair to get on the table, and fixed jollity would ensue.

So when I met my husband, I have since enjoyed joining them for every Christmas and experiencing the happiness of the occasion. Even still it can bring difference of opinion in how present opening is carried out.

There is a lovely tradition of the children opening stockings in bed either with their parents or grandparents. Then a lazy breakfast and an assortment of people getting ready to go to church, and others staying to cook.

After a lovely lunch, we watch the Queen give her speech and then set to opening presents.

When we join together at the parent's house with my husband's siblings and their children, I tend to find quite an uneasy free for all. Presents are hastily dished out so everyone has their own pile around them, and uncontrollable opening ensues. I find it quite a tasteless way of opening. Wanting them to savour each present and to be watched. I do find when it is just one of the siblings the opening is done more orderly.

Personally I would prefer it if the children could spread their opening over a couple of days, but my husband is keen to get them all opened.

I try to make it that each person goes around and dishes out all the presents they are giving to each person. Wish them a Happy Christmas, a kiss on the cheek and enjoy watching the group opening of the gifts I have given. I hope very much to control this this year as it is my turn to host at home. But I am sure I will end up battling with my husband's own wishes.

Hope the plans all go well. Try to remember that others also have a wish as to how the day will go, and try to be realistic about it.