Displaying Christmas presents under the tree beforehand

[kckgirl]

My family growing up had one tradition that I have tried to continue, which is getting to open one present on Christmas Eve.  The package always contained new pajamas.  I'm trying to continue the Christmas pajamas tradition but DH thinks it's silly.  And getting pjs isn't nearly as exciting for the kids when they get all kinds of gifts from their aunts and uncles anyway.

The reason you give the kids new pjs as their Christmas Eve gift is so they will look their best in the Christmas morning photos. We do it every year.

[Calbrini]

At the moment we keep 'seasonal' soft toys sitting under the tree so it doesnt look bare. These are soft reindeers, santas, dogs with santa hats on, snowmen etc. The jack russels are not really interested in them as they only like golf balls and stuff to eat.

[Gwywnnydd]

So, what do you do with your family’s presents? Put them under the tree immediately, or not until Christmas Eve/morning? Did your family do this growing up or not? Do you think it’s an etiquette faux pas to do so as my mother felt it was?

Gifts from family members to family members can go under the tree as soon as they are purchased and wrapped. That's not very many, as my family only gives one gift per person. Gifts from Santa appear under the tree after all minor children are asleep on Dec. 24th.

[kckgirl]

In my earlier post I forgot to say that our gifts go under the tree as soon as they are wrapped. It's the easiest place to store them in our small house.

[Morty'sCleaningLady]

Heck,  I keep some empty, wrapped boxes under my tree to boast the appearance!  Your Mom would think I'm horrible!

[dawbs]

Heck,  I keep some empty, wrapped boxes under my tree to boast the appearance!  Your Mom would think I'm horrible!

I only keep these around to barricade the pets out 

[Sterling]

I buy wrapping to match that years theme and put everything under the tree as part of the decor.  I hope its not rude.

[Giantkillersmom]

Ours go under the tree.  It's killing me that I haven't had time to wrap them yet so it looks bare!  Of course I'm the mom who likes to torture her kids.  No names on their presents.  Last year I used 3 different christmas stickers to identify each child.  This year I'll write "Jingle," "Bell" or "Rock" on each present.  It drives my kids nuts because they love to shake.  Of course I was an expert at peeling tape and peeking as a child so this is my solution.

[extranormal]

Ours go under the tree.  It's killing me that I haven't had time to wrap them yet so it looks bare!  Of course I'm the mom who likes to torture her kids.  No names on their presents.  Last year I used 3 different christmas stickers to identify each child.  This year I'll write "Jingle," "Bell" or "Rock" on each present.  It drives my kids nuts because they love to shake.  Of course I was an expert at peeling tape and peeking as a child so this is my solution.

You're my hero, GKM. That's marvelous (although I can't help thinking of Charlie Brown peering into his Halloween bag and commenting, "I got a rock"...).

[Missyb]

At the moment we keep 'seasonal' soft toys sitting under the tree so it doesnt look bare. These are soft reindeers, santas, dogs with santa hats on, snowmen etc. The jack russels are not really interested in them as they only like golf balls and stuff to eat.

That's what we do.   We have two cats that love poking their claws into wrapping paper so we can't put out any gifts until Christmas Eve.

[bopper]

Presents that come in the mail can be opened as they arrive.  The kids get so much on Christmas it is good to spread them out a bit, I think.  Gifts we give them appear on Christmas morning.  Gifts we are giving to others go under the tree as they are wrapped.

[MrsO]

We put gifts from friends and relatives under the tree, mainly because I think they look so festive and pretty!
Presents from Santa don't appear until christmas morning, though, of course  

[Brentwood]

We always put our presents under the tree as soon as we've got them wrapped. I think it looks pretty and festive, and rather than "hampering" the surprise, it helps increase the anticipation.

I can't imagine the faux pas in putting presents under the tree.

[Brentwood]

As for having it spoil the surprise - my mother was always the master of messing with your perceptions.

She'd take a tiny pair of earring, and wrap them in a refrigerator box fill with crumpled newspaper. Or she take an object, wrap towel around it into a ball, then wrap it like an enormous hard-candy. Or she'd take something very large, leave it in another room, and put a teeny picture of it in a teeny box, and wrap that.

When friends would come over, the odd assortment of shapes and sizes was the source of much awe, and much futile guessing. She always had a blast doing it.

My mother has always been very good at the deceptive wrapping. I've picked up that skill and have a blast also.

[MrsO]

We always put our presents under the tree as soon as we've got them wrapped. I think it looks pretty and festive, and rather than "hampering" the surprise, it helps increase the anticipation.

I can't imagine the faux pas in putting presents under the tree.

POD. Although i'm always DYING to have a poke around them and try and guess, but DH never lets me!  I'm just impatient, I guess