Day 17- What is your absolute favourite part of the holidays? Only one.

[strange_complex]

Day 09's prompt was 'Best holiday traditions', and I was really pleased about the plural form of 'traditions', because it meant I could just list everything I liked, and didn't have to choose. Now, I do have to choose!

So I have looked over my previous list, and with due consideration I am going to nominate the process of getting all the presents out from under the tree and sorting them into big piles for each person as my absolute favourite moment.

In part, I'm sure I still like that bit simply because as a child the presents were very straightforwardly the most exciting bit of Christmas, on a basic "yay new stuff!" level, and that excited child still lives within me. But I can appreciate the more adult aspects of the ceremony now, too. Like the fact that piling up the presents signals the start of a good two hours where as a family we are all basically focused on expressing our affection for each other and making each other happy. That's nice. And I've always liked the way they come from under the tree, too, like a sort of magical fruit which has grown there over the previous few days.

I'm sure things won't be anything like so ordered this year, with a one-and-a-half-year-old running around the place making mischief! But I'm pretty sure she will be her own compensation. :-)

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Comments

[cosmolinguist]

Before I read your answer, I tried to think of what my own would be, and came up with precisely the same thing :)

My grandpa used to hand them out, always seeming surprised/shocked/dubious that the person whose name was on the present was getting one.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I think that's my favourite bit too, though it's got less interesting now it's just me and my mum :)

Actually, all-time best bit must be waking up and feeling the full stocking with your toes.