The thread about all the FOOD made me wonder, how do you guys do presents, whether for $mas or any other midwinter holiday? We have a plan: everybody gets up on $mas morning whenever they do, and children may delve immediately into their STOCKINGS but are not to touch anything under the tree till everyone is up. That usually keeps them till 8 or 9, and everybody is usually up by 10 or so. Once everyone has their plate of food and cup of coffee if appropriate, we (grownups) all sit around the big room and the children, usually with Santa hats on, divvy up the spoils (practicing reading, if young enough), so that everyone has a stack of their presents near them. Kids usually stack near their parent's stack. Then, all the children get to open theirs, but in theory one at a time and they have to get the attention of the giver and say thanks, no freeforall. Well, little freeforall. THEN the kids LEAVE and go play with their new stuff and the adults get serious, we really take turns, and we COUNT presents and make fun of whoever has the fewest and whoever has the most (yes, we really do). The turn-taking gets erratic towards the end so that nobody is done way before anybody else (I'll skip! I still have lots!), and if a present is from a child we'll call them back to watch us open it. This can take up to three hours, during which time we'll have probably eaten a full meal's worth and drunk at least 2 full pots of coffee. THEN we get all the wrapping and boxes and stuff up off the floor and start thinking about a real meal, like lunch. It's a blast. And since the one sister who can be a real emotional pain is in Tasmania, there isn't usually any huffiness, even between the ones getting the most/least since they do tend to change every year, what with overcompensation and all. I still tend to get lots because I'm the youngest, and the hostess gets lots because she's the hostess, and Mom gets lots because otherwise she pouts... and then it's off to the running Mah Jongg game, we always have a table going and there are usually 4 people playing, although which 4 tends to vary rather randomly. We keep score for the seats, not the people, so you may come back to a winning seat when whoever took your hand is still losing... or viceversa. A great time is had by all.

So what are your rituals? Just curious!