Christmas and gifts

Every family has their own traditions concerning the unwrapping of the presents under the Christmas tree.

One family unwraps all of the gifts on Christmas Eve so that Santa's gifts will be extra special come Christmas morning. We would unwrap one gift Christmas Eve in anticipation of others to come.

Another family dives into the gifts like a tornado with paper and wrapping paper flying all over the room. It is as if they have a goal to make the biggest mess possible, but oh what enthusiasm and excitement.

In another family, with strong European heritage, they place special gifts in the tree itself. I did that one year and nearly forgot that they were there come Christmas morning. Within that European tradition was that one of those gifts hidden in the tree was a baby Jesus. It was their belief that whoever finds that particular gift was to have an extra blessing during the coming year.

I'm not sure where or when it began, but we unwrap the gifts one at a time. We start with the youngest, who has the responsibility of distributing the gifts to each person in the circle ... Ava Brooke's turn will come in several years once she begins to read. One year Erin was only a toddler and she was completely fascinated with the gift she just unwrapped. Well, it had come full circle and we all waited for her to unwrap her next gift. Tracy finally waited long enough and kind of strongly suggested that Erin get on with the unwrapping. Erin stated, just as strongly, "But, I'm not through playing with this one!"

And then there is a husband and wife who simply buy their own gifts informing their spouse, "Look what you are giving me for Christmas!"

Regardless of your tradition may the presents remind you of the presence of the greatest gift ever given!