FAMILY CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS MORNING IN OUR FAMILY, A SPECIAL PROCEDURE IS
FOLLOWED REGARDING THE PRELIMINARIES TO RECEIVING OUR GIFTS. ON
CHRISTMAS EVE, OUR PARENTS PLACE THEIR GIFTS TO THE FIVE CHILDREN
IN FIVE PILES IN THE LIVING ROOM, WHERE THE TREE IS, AND THEN LOCK
BOTH DOORS TO THE ROOM. IN THE MORNING, ALL HAVE TO GO IN THE
KITCHEN AND WAIT UNTIL EVERYONE IS UP AND HAS EATEN BREAKFAST (WHICH
ALWAYS INCLUDES A FRUIT STOLLEN SPECIAL-ORDERED FROM THE BAKERY.)
BEFORE THEY CAN GO INTO THE LIVING ROOM. (MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE
EARLY RISERS GET IMPATIENT AND WAKE THE LATE SLEEPERS.) OUR STOCK-
INGS ARE HUNG IN THE KITCHEN (WE HAVE NO FIREPLACE) AND THOSE ARE
THE ONLY GIFTS YOU CAN LOOK AT BEFORE YOU ENTER THE LIVING ROOM.
WHEN THE TIME FINALLY COMES, OUR FATHER GOES INTO THE ROOM AND LIGHTS
UP THE TREE, WHILE WE LINE UP IN ORDER OF AGE. WHEN HE GIVES THE
SIGNAL, WE ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE ROOM. AFTER WE HAVE OPENED THESE
GIFTS, WE GO UPSTAIRS AND BRING DOWN OUR GIFTS TO OUR PARENTS,
BROTHERS, AND SISTERS. THE CAMERA IS ALWAYS USED TO GET PICTURES OF
US OPENING OUR GIFTS, AND SOMETIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE MORNING
OUR FATHER PLAYS CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON THE ORGAN.

Submitter comment: WE CHILDREN PRESENTLY RANGE IN AGE FROM 11 TO 19,
WE HAVE ALWAYS ENACTED THIS TRADITION, AND AS YET IT HAS SHOWN NO
SIGNS OF DYING OUT. WHEN I HAVE A FAMILY OF MY OWN, I WILL PROBABLY
PASS THE CUSTOM ON TO THEM.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 09-00-1973