Long ago, my father started the tradition that on Christmas morning, presents would be opened one at a time. He would start with the youngest first and then move up to the oldest. When all of us had opened a present, it would start back at the youngest again until all the presents were revealed.
As I was the oldest of 11, it seemed like it took longer and longer every year.
Which it did, as more and more children were added to our family. We have a span of about 22 years between the oldest and the youngest.
When you grow older your Christmas presents tend to be bigger and/or more expensive. This usually equals fewer presents. It’s just how Christmas works, at least at our house.
I was 19 and home for Christmas. My Dad had previously made a beautiful bookcase for my Mother, and I really wanted him to make one for me. This was the one thing I REALLY wanted that year.
Christmas morning dawned and I received the treasured bookcase. It was just what I wanted and I was so excited. After getting my present, the turn went to my youngest sibling at the time, and the round of presents went on. I received two more presents in total that year.
I LOVED my presents. But it was a little boring sitting there for the next hour or two while everyone kept unwrapping more and more presents.
I thought about that day many times during the coming year. It had put a damper on my day. So I put my brain to work and came up with a new plan for Christmas mornings.
This year, we would continue with my Dad’s tradition of starting with the youngest opening presents and moving up to the eldest.
But we would add a twist. There would be no names on the presents under the tree. Each person would have the opportunity to open an equal number of presents until they were all open, but the present wouldn’t necessarily be for you.
It could be.
Or it could be your brother’s new underwear.
Perhaps cooking supplies that Dad opened, when he doesn’t cook.
Or there was the year when I was home for Christmas and I had broken my leg ice skating. I had been so excited to go ice skating for the first time ever and it had resulted in a badly broken leg. What should I open for Christmas that year? A pair of ice skates meant for one of my sisters. We laughed and laughed at this. Lots of ribbing and teasing went on as the morning progressed.
One of the unplanned and unexpected results of this new tradition was there were fewer of the “gimmes” going on and everyone was just having a fun time seeing what was going to be in the next present. Would it be funny? Is it mine? Would it make us laugh, and laugh until our bellies ached? Frequently it did. This brought so much joy and laughter on Christmas morning. No one was concerned over who received more presents than someone else. It was just jolly fun.
What are your Christmas traditions? What makes your family belly laugh or want to spend time with each other. Share with us!
