The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS EVE WE HAVE OUR RELATIVES
OVER TO OPEN PRESENTS. IN PREPARATION FOR THIS
WE PUT ALL THE PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE AND
CLOSE THE DOORS LEADING TO THE LIVING ROOM.
THE RELATIVES ENTER BY THE BACK DOOR AND GATHER
IN THE KITCHEN FOR A DRINK AND SOME TALK. WHEN
EVERYONE IS READY WE LINE UP AT THE DOOR,
YOUNGEST FIRST, AND GO INTO THE LIVING ROOM TO
OPEN THE PRESENTS. THE YOUNGEST GETS TO OPEN
THE FIRST GIFT AND THEN THE NEXT YOUNGEST
AND SO ON UNTIL EVERYONE HAS OPENED ONE
OF THEIR GIFTS. THEN IT STARTS OVER AND
CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE GIFTS ARE GONE.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI