My parents and I always opened our presents on Christmas Eve after church. That was a German tradition from my mother, and also cleared the way for Christmas with family on Christmas Day.
We usually headed for Magnolia, MN late morning on Christmas Day to either my paternal grandparent’s farm or the farm of my dad’s younger brother a couple of miles east. My dad’s sister and family would come from Sioux Falls, and we would have a huge meal (usually turkey and all the fixings), and then we children would have to wait until after the dishes were done to open presents. That was a long wait! Late in the afternoon we would head to Pipestone, 25 miles north, to whichever of my mother’s family would host Christmas. There usually were no presents, just a big meal and lots of desserts.
Yesterday we spent time in Brookings opening presents, taking turns cooking, napping, reading, doing art projects with our grandson, and listening to grandson read aloud the various books he received (Cat Kid, Wild Robots, or Dog Man). He also received some pretty wonderful art kits which he started to use right away. It was very foggy outside, and we didn’t go anywhere. We watched The Muppets Christmas Carol after eating the French Canadian tortiere that grandson and I assembled and baked. He was a good dough pincher. It was a restful day. The Westie and cat napped on various soft blankets. No one had to wait for the dishes to get done before opening presents. We cleaned as we cooked. We listened to Christmas music on MPR all day. It was a great time.
What were your family gatherings like when you were a child? What were some of your favorite presents? Who did the dishes?
Trail Baboon 
We had grandparents over for Christmas Eve. It was our tradition to have oyster stew, a veggie tray, and Christmas cookies for Christmas Eve. After the meal, nothing could happen until the dishes were done. I had to help Mom clear the table and do all the dishes and put them away before opening gifts. My younger brothers were sent outside to release their pent up energy. I was asked to serve coffee to my grandparents.
After every dish was cleaned and put away, and coffee had been served, I was asked to call my brothers back in. Then we opened the gifts that were stacked under the tree. One person would take the first gift, open it, neatly put the wrapping paper and bow in a paper bag while passing the gift around for all to see. Then that person would go select a gift for someone else who would repeat the procedure. It was a slow, organized procedure (painful for excited kids). Pandemonium was frowned upon – no tearing, no throwing, no mess.
All of the excitement was over by 9 or 10 p.m., and we usually took our loot back to our bedrooms and played, or read, or went to bed. Santa came overnight and left us larger gifts, like x-c skis or sleds. Our stockings had smaller gifts inside, as well as red Delicious apples and huge oranges. My grandpa carved small, clever, puzzle-like toys that somehow showed up in our Christmas stockings.
We always had Christmas dinner at noon. We didn’t usually go to church, but I know my grandma didn’t like that. She and grandpa always went to the Associated Church in Owatonna. They came to our house after church to have dinner and watch us enjoy all our new stuff.
Christmas went the same way every year until I was a teenager. My youngest brother doesn’t remember those rich Christmases of the ‘60s, which I think is kind of sad. I remember his excitement so well. He was almost nuts from being so wound up. He was born in 1965, so he was pretty young.
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We did Christmas Eve presents, and it was our tradition to take a drive to look at Christmas lights. Every single time, it just happened that Santa had come while we were out! My sis and I wondered why it always took my mom so long to join us as the car was warming up – she was wolfing down cookies (well, probably putting them away) and milk, and getting all the prezzies under the tree…
Some years we joined my mom’s family in Sioux City – where we got to skate on the ice rink right across the street.
Other times we drove to Roland, IA (outside Ames) for Christmas with paternal Grandparents…. then we’d have to wait till Christmas morning, but there were treats like buttered/sugared lefse to keep us occupied. One year, a cousin from Ames had picked up the guitar, and would sing songs by Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, and one called “I’m Itchin’ for My Baby but I Don’t Know Where to Scratch.”
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Gosh, this would be fun to do with our little folk group. Thanks!
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Yep, it’s pretty funny.
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When I was growing up, Christmas Eve was spent with my mother’s side of the family and Christmas Day with my father’s family. They were very different. Christmas Eve was always at my maternal aunt’s home in St. Paul. There was lots of food, potluck style. My mother’s specialty was Swedish meatballs. One aunt made Jello creations (a different one every gathering). My uncle made a big ham wrapped in bread dough that was the star of the meal. The women did the dishes; I had the job of wiping dishes and putting them away.
It was a lively gathering, with lots of music, laughter, and kids everywhere. Santa visited and gave each of us one gift (kind of an appetizer). We also drew names and exchanged gifts with each other.
Christmas Day was at my paternal grandparents’ home, also in St. Paul. There weren’t as many cousins, and it was a more adult-oriented mood, focused on conversation and food. My grandparents made a huge meal and we ate family-style at their large table. We exchanged gifts, but it wasn’t the scene of pandemonium of the night before. I think my grandma and aunt did the dishes, I was never asked to help. Grandma probably wanted to keep everyone out of her domain.
Three favorite gifts come to mind amid the usual ice skates, pajamas, and Nancy Drew books. One was a boxed set of Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass with the original illustrations. I think it was a special centennial edition. Another was a Mary Poppins doll. She was about the size of a Barbie doll and came with her nanny uniform, coat, hat, Jolly Holiday dress and all the accessories (umbrella, carpet bag, etc.). I loved Mary Poppins, books and movie, and knew all the movie songs by heart. The final gift was a microscope; it could make ordinary things like a scrap of onion skin look beautiful and fascinating.
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Cool presents!
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I had a similar boxed set of Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass!
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The gathering we went to yesterday with friends was lovely, esp. in that the men got up from the table, cleared it, and did the dishes! A tradition at their house, bless their hearts. The women always did the Christmases I described above.
Trying to remember the presents – ice skates were always a hit…
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Three questions.
1. We played cards.
2. Baseball cards.
3. I always did the dishes!!!
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When I was growing up, we always did Christmas on Christmas morning. If we were living in St. Louis, then there was usually a party that afternoon and most years it was at our house. However, the years we lived in Jefferson City, we stayed put and no party. When I got into high school, we started the tradition of going out and looking at the lights on Christmas Eve and that’s when my dad had little cards printed up that we would leave in people‘s mailboxes telling them we appreciated their lights.
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What a sweet idea, the little cards!
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When I was growing up, there were a lot of practical gifts. You could count on slippers or socks or pajamas. My sister tended to get pink and if they were similar articles of clothing, I would get blue. Books were always a good gift for me.
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Yes, I can remember a light blue cardigan sweater when I was maybe 8 yrs…
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