Welcome to Day 18 of our 25 Days of Nostalgia series!
Christmas morning in our house has always been a blend of excitement, mayhem, and tradition. But the big question always loomed: when do you open Christmas presents?
The day kicks off with a level of energy so high it could probably light up the fairy lights. As a child, I was usually up at 4am, fuelled by excitement and a desperate urge to see what Father Christmas had left under the tree.
Now, as a parent, I’m probably not even asleep until that time, frantically finishing last-minute wrapping with the wife and trying to assemble toys without waking anyone.
Presents piled under the tree, the waft of something delicious coming from the kitchen, and kids desperate to dive into their requested gifts. But when do you open Christmas presents? Now that’s a debate worthy of the Christmas table itself.
The Great Debate: When to Open Christmas Presents
Timing the present-opening is as much a family tradition as the roast or the Christmas crackers.
In our house, it was always first thing in the morning. Not just because it was exciting, but because it gave us something to do for the rest of the day. New toys kept us busy, and parents could get on with cooking or sneaking a cheeky Baileys (or entire bottle of wine).
But not every family does it this way. In the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, most families traditionally open gifts on Christmas Day. However, even this comes with controversy.
Some insist it’s more acceptable to wait until after the morning church service and before lunch to open the presents under the tree. Others argue that opening gifts before breakfast is downright vulgar.
Personally, the idea of waiting all day would’ve driven me mad. Sitting there while the chicken roasted, hearing wine glasses clink and parents chat, knowing the treasure trove was just sitting there? Torture. I’ll always be a morning opener.
By the time dinner’s done, everyone’s ready for a nap, not a gift exchange.
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For many cultures, though, it’s all about Christmas Eve. In Germany and Scandinavia, for example, presents are opened as part of the evening celebrations. Imagine sneaking a peek at your new toys under the glow of the Christmas tree before bed!
Magical, Mystical Mornings
For us, mornings were always the big moment.
There was something mystical about creeping into the living room and seeing the pile of presents waiting under the tree.
Everything felt enchanted until I figured out the “secret” around the age of eight. Thinking back, it was the fact that the reindeer hadn’t eaten their carrots, the milk wasn’t touched, and the cookies were still in place that started my journey to disillusion.
Until then, Santa’s visit, the half-eaten mince pies, and the gifts he left behind made the day feel larger than life.
The unwrapping itself was pure bedlam—bits of wrapping paper flying everywhere, a blur of excitement as the first toy was revealed. The best part wasn’t even the big presents; it was the surprises, like a tiny stocking filler or snack that somehow felt just as special.
Unfortunately we’ve managed to catch Covid again, (and my wife managed to fracture her toe) so our plans of visiting Father Christmas were scuppered. Thankfully a quick Cameo purchase later and Santa had made the kids a wonderful video that they all (well the younger kids anyway) absolutely adored.
My Family’s Christmas Rule
In our house, we were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve, which felt like a little taste of the magic to come.
Looking back, I realise this wasn’t about pacing the excitement. It was about survival. Parents were often up until 3 or 4am wrapping presents, battling instructions for toys, and likely nursing a wine hangover. The rule gave them a little breathing room.
I was a stickler for rules, though, and refused to open anything until the official go-ahead. Much to my mum’s irritation, this probably meant she had to get up at 5am instead of catching a few extra hours. In hindsight, maybe I should’ve just ripped into something and let her sleep.
The Parents’ Perspective
Now, as a parent myself, I get it. Christmas is a logistical nightmare. The “just one gift” rule was probably the only defence against a full-blown present-opening free-for-all before anyone’d even had a sip of coffee.
These days, my wife and I are the ones staying up into the early hours, swearing under our breath when we lose the scissors (yay ADHD) or realise we’ve run out of wrapping paper.
Let’s not even talk about assembling toys with instructions that seem to be written in hieroglyphics. By morning, I’m clinging to sleep while my kids are ready to reenact the wrapping paper frenzy I remember so well. Except now as the adult, I’m the Christmas Womble with bin bag at the ready.
Christmas Chaos and Charm
Whether you open gifts on Christmas Eve, first thing in the morning, or during that sacred pause between church and lunch, the timing is just as much a part of the tradition as the gifts themselves.
For me, the pandemonium of Christmas morning will always hold a special place in my heart.
The early wake-ups, the paper-strewn floors, and the inevitable sugar rush made it magical as a child—and it still does now as a parent. Because in the end, it’s not about when you open the presents; it’s about the memories you create while doing it.
Which of these traditions resonates with you? Do you let your kids open presents first thing, or are you part of the “wait until after church” club? Let me know in the comments—or better yet, share how you’re passing on your own festive traditions to your kids!
Oh, and tune in tomorrow for day 19 of our Advent series!
1 Comment
Vince
Your writing has a way of resonating with me on a deep level. I appreciate the honesty and authenticity you bring to every post. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.