it is great watching kids open presents on christmas day.

Personally opening presents isn't such a big thing for me anymore. I'm appreciative of everything that I'm given, and it is nice to receive something enjoyable from family. However, its not the climax of the Christmas season like it was as a child. Last year was my son's second Christmas, but really the first one that he realized what the holiday was about enough to get excited. My wife and I did not go overboard with gifts, and I regretted it afterwards. There was so much excitement and happiness when he saw the gifts and was allowed to open them. I wish we had wrapped up more than just a handful of things for him. My plan isn't to have expensive items or to spend a lot of money, but merely for there to be many things for him to open up and treasure.

I think it was  more fun when I was  a kid. we always get up early and open presents. more happy to see my kids who are just grown open theirs.We even get presents for our two dogs. hey they are there expecting their presents too. I am not as excited about opening presents as an adult. it is nice and i am grateful. but i also know that opening presents is not the only thing to do with Christmas. the last few years have been hard with bouts of unemployment and less money to spend. holidays can be difficult, feeling bad that we  do not have as much to give for relatives. the only thing is they are in the same boat as we are.  i have been hearing in the news that less spending is nationwide.we just keep in mind that buying tons of gifts should not be the number one thing about the holidays.

the crappest idea in the world what if ur poor and can't aford in or maybe you don't have anyone to give things to. thanks for making my dad that much worse

As ungrateful as this sounds, that's the first thing I look forward to on Christmas morning (when I wake up at say, 4:30 a.m...lol).

Yeah, if you get any, I really like gift cards though.

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!

Yawns...It really don't matter for me, I get what I want and need 365 days a year.

Yes Boiz!!  

-We all need prezzies tu lighten us up in thaa morning init?..

- Then tucking into some nice begium chocolates!(shells was always my fav!)

Christmas presents were much more important to me when I was little. But I definitely still look forward to it; it's just that I now realize that there are more important aspects to Christmas.

Hurray!!! Its a...sweater????

I'm ready to rip some wrapping paper!!!!

Love giving gifts- much more than getting them. . .I must be getting mellow. . .

I don't see anything wrong with presents, but that's not what Christmas means to me.

Mmm... presents.

DUH. What would it be without presents?

Well, it's nice, certainly. I think I've finally "grown up" though: I enjoy watching others open gifts more than I do receiving gifts. When someone would ask "what do you want for Christmas", I remember way back when I could write out a whole big list. Now, when I say "nothing, really," I mean it. I spend time during the holidays trying to find a gift that would make the recipient's face light up. I guess it's a sign of me getting old . . .

Here's how I've done it for years, and I don't plan on changing it. First, before going to sleep, I crack open a single blind or leave a small gap in between the curtains. This is so during the multiple times I wake up during the night, I can be sure not to wake up to early--I use sunrise as my indicator. For once, I leave the lights in my room on overnight, because it is Christmas Eve you're going to sleep on, you know! I then go to sleep, hopefully dreaming one of great dreams about saving the day or the fairer sex. Upon recieving the Signal of Awakening (as mentioned, that's the sunrise), I shoot out of bed and proceed to awaken my relatives. At one time, this was an arduous process and an interminable wait--loading film, percolating coffee and just plain fatigue liked to set it. (Do note that if the relatives really needed to/wanted to sleep, I would let them--but I would still wake up upon sunrise and subtly and slowly make more noise as the day dragged on ~_^). When the relatives have gathered around the tree, I proceed to give them each a present of theirs, and next place a present of my own nearby to open. Then, the paper flies, baby! ^_^ I still enjoy ripping it apart with energy and verve, and I don't think I'll ever stop enjoying it. As you can tell, for this fan of Christmas, there's no time like for presents! ^_^