We had to all be up and have had breakfast (4 kids) before the first present was opened. Then we did them one at a time, with a volunteer “angel” picking them from under the tree, and a “recording” angel making notes about who gave and who got. If it took too long, we’d have lunch/dinner before we finished, but usually we ate the fancy meal about 2 pm. I miss the whole thing-it’s been decades since I was home, and now both parents are gone.
It’s only christmas when the parents want to wake up, as I remember from my childhood.
Exactly. One year my Dad woke up and let us start opening gifts. My Mom was so hurt that we didn’t wait for her. All three of us were in the doghouse the rest of the day.
Oh the memories! We usually got to open one present on Christmas Eve and the rest had to wait for Christmas Day. The parents lined us up before we were allowed to go to the front room to open the gifts. One year I saw that my brothers had received bicycles and I ran into their room to tell them. They didn’t appreciate my thoughtfulness lol! As we got older and they moved out traditions changed. They’d come with their wives and one person played “Santa” and passed out the presents. We had to learn from experience to wait while each present was opened instead of just opening all at once. It was more fun that way and increased the anticipation.
Those good old days when parents had control by threats or no gifts. We peeked one year with one gift and were sorry we did. I still wait until after breakfast and I’m 74.
The only Christmas morning rule regarding the commencement of festivities in my childhood home was: “the grownups must start their coffee infusion first”.
When I was a kid, I slept on my own bed. My sister sneaked and woke me up. she told me to be quiet and then we both sneaked down the hall and the downstairs where the stockings for our parents, brothers and sisters hung up on the rail. We looked through their stockings to see what they had or not. It was fun but we grew older. We did not do that much. It was very awesome in our reminiscences. Wish y’all a Merry Christmas!
lol, sugie63 my dad got the kids presents; two for DS (6yo) and three for DD (4yo). DS kept asking why his sister got more even though his presents were bigger and he’ll play with hers anyway, lol! I remember my brother counting but I didn’t care.
Here Christmas starts around 10am since we usually have grandparents over. The kids get their stockings when they get up and we have breakfast while we wait. It’s almost 8am here on Christmas morning and I’m the only one up, lol!! (we’re night owls and late risers)
at my cousins house, which we used to spend Christmas at sometimes, no going to the basement(where their stockings were kept) until my Uncle woke up. You can imagine how long he sleeps in th mornings. Being a kids, it seems twice that long. Christmas was hard that year…
shadowcougar8 almost 16 years ago
It’s only christmas when the parents want to wake up, as I remember from my childhood.
fournier almost 16 years ago
I was told it started at 7 AM.
swolf48110 almost 16 years ago
I was always threatened if I got up before 6:00
Bender_Sastre almost 16 years ago
The unwrapping frenzy didn’t start until the parents were made breakfast and mother had made herself pretty, which was … .1:00pm-ish
dakabn5 almost 16 years ago
As I got older it started later and later. Sleep got more important than gifts.
alife almost 16 years ago
“We” 2 others and I got to open ONE!!!
cleokaya almost 16 years ago
I too was aloud to open a gift, first on Christmas Eve, then on Christmas Day. Any other gifts awaited the adults.
Sugie63 almost 16 years ago
My kids (2) didn’t wake us but when we got up everything was separated by name and counted. God forbid that one kid should get an extra gift.
pibfan868 almost 16 years ago
We had to all be up and have had breakfast (4 kids) before the first present was opened. Then we did them one at a time, with a volunteer “angel” picking them from under the tree, and a “recording” angel making notes about who gave and who got. If it took too long, we’d have lunch/dinner before we finished, but usually we ate the fancy meal about 2 pm. I miss the whole thing-it’s been decades since I was home, and now both parents are gone.
margueritem almost 16 years ago
Bender_Sastre says:
The unwrapping frenzy didn’t start until the parents were made breakfast and mother had made herself pretty, which was … .1:00pm-ish
That’s just cruel. <:-(
margueritem almost 16 years ago
shadowcougar8 says:
It’s only christmas when the parents want to wake up, as I remember from my childhood.
Exactly. One year my Dad woke up and let us start opening gifts. My Mom was so hurt that we didn’t wait for her. All three of us were in the doghouse the rest of the day.
alondra almost 16 years ago
Oh the memories! We usually got to open one present on Christmas Eve and the rest had to wait for Christmas Day. The parents lined us up before we were allowed to go to the front room to open the gifts. One year I saw that my brothers had received bicycles and I ran into their room to tell them. They didn’t appreciate my thoughtfulness lol! As we got older and they moved out traditions changed. They’d come with their wives and one person played “Santa” and passed out the presents. We had to learn from experience to wait while each present was opened instead of just opening all at once. It was more fun that way and increased the anticipation.
Silverpearl almost 16 years ago
Those good old days when parents had control by threats or no gifts. We peeked one year with one gift and were sorry we did. I still wait until after breakfast and I’m 74.
arceedee almost 16 years ago
The only Christmas morning rule regarding the commencement of festivities in my childhood home was: “the grownups must start their coffee infusion first”.
Wildmustang1262 almost 16 years ago
When I was a kid, I slept on my own bed. My sister sneaked and woke me up. she told me to be quiet and then we both sneaked down the hall and the downstairs where the stockings for our parents, brothers and sisters hung up on the rail. We looked through their stockings to see what they had or not. It was fun but we grew older. We did not do that much. It was very awesome in our reminiscences. Wish y’all a Merry Christmas!
margueritem almost 16 years ago
Wildmustang1262: Merry Christmas to you too, my friend.
mcveinot almost 16 years ago
lol, sugie63 my dad got the kids presents; two for DS (6yo) and three for DD (4yo). DS kept asking why his sister got more even though his presents were bigger and he’ll play with hers anyway, lol! I remember my brother counting but I didn’t care.
Here Christmas starts around 10am since we usually have grandparents over. The kids get their stockings when they get up and we have breakfast while we wait. It’s almost 8am here on Christmas morning and I’m the only one up, lol!! (we’re night owls and late risers)
jadelovesjelly over 13 years ago
at my cousins house, which we used to spend Christmas at sometimes, no going to the basement(where their stockings were kept) until my Uncle woke up. You can imagine how long he sleeps in th mornings. Being a kids, it seems twice that long. Christmas was hard that year…
jadelovesjelly over 13 years ago
acually, now that i think about it, at our house we open all presents on Christmas Eve, and do Santa’s presents on Chrismas morning.