It is the holiday season again, which means it is time for Christmas trees, snow on the ground, and most importantly- presents! While it is common that most of us will open presents early in the morning on Christmas day, each and every one of us has our own way of doing things once all of the presents have been opened. Traditions are one of the best parts of the holiday season, besides the gifts of course!
While there may be a never ending list of what people do after opening presents, one of the most common things families do is to visit their extended family members. Many people will decide that after opening gifts in the comfort of their homes while still being in their pajamas, it is time to visit the rest of their loved ones. For most of us, we will hop in the shower, put on our Christmas attire, and head out to grandmas and grandpas house to spend time together; and if we’re lucky, we will get more presents as well!
However, for some of us out there who live far away from extended family members, this may an issue. We might have grown up going over to our loved ones homes and spending time with them, but as we grow older we find ourselves drifting further and further away. For those of us who live far away, after opening our presents we will most likely make the string of phone calls to our loved ones to let them know we are thinking of them, miss them, and to wish them a very happy holiday, because no matter how far away you may be, you still care for them deeply.
While driving or calling our extended family members may be one of the most important and common after present tasks, another very popular tradition is to eat dinner with the family. Christmas dinner is definitely one of the most popular and essential parts of Christmas day; the amazing food, the great company, and the influx of adorably decorated and incredibly delicious Christmas cookies in shapes of Christmas trees, snowmen, and so much more. Christmas dinner is definitely one of the best- second to Thanksgiving, of course. Christmas dinner is one of the most famous after present traditions performed by families across the entire country.
When it comes to Christmas, the focus is definitely on family; but that doesn’t mean you forget about friends. Another commonly performed task after opening presents on Christmas day is to contact all of your close friends and wish them a happy holiday; that, and to talk about all of the cool gifts you got. Chit chatting with friends about gifts and all of the fun things you did that day is definitely an essential part of Christmas day.
It seems like every Christmas there is something different in the family; maybe it is a new baby in the family, or you are in a new home. For this reason, many families decide to take a family photo right after opening presents. The typical Christmas family photo will consist of the entire family standing in front of the Christmas tree, hugging each other or simply standing there and smiling. It is a great way to keep track of how things are changing and you and your family will love looking back on old memories of how past Christmas days went. Family photos are definitely common after present ideas, and there a lot of ways to make these photos fun and exciting; for instance, you could all wear Christmas hats or have snow in your hands, something of that nature.
One thing that everyone loves when it comes to Christmas time, if the Christmas cookies! One favorite activity for families is the baking and decorating of delicious Christmas cookies. After opening presents, you have probably burned a lot of calories and are pretty hungry; that, and, you want a special treat to snack on. After all, it is Christmas time and you deserve a delicious treat, even if you are on a diet! Whether your making sugar cookies in the shape of snowmen or making a red and green cake, it is definitely something fun that you and your family can do together.
Another family activity that falls nothing short of insanely fun is heading outside to play in the snow. A lot of families who live in areas where the snow falls endlessly through the winter will decide to head outside for some much needed fun. After opening presents, why not go expel some energy while enjoying the miraculous beauty of the snow white outdoors. Whether you are making an angel, having snowball fights with your loved ones, or building a funny looking snowman, it is positively a fun activity enjoyed by many families on Christmas day. What better way to show someone you love them than with a huge snowball right to the face!
Last on the list of common activities families perform after opening Christmas presents is watching Christmas movies. Everyone loves Christmas stories; they are fun, silly, and bring you into the holiday cheer instantly. It is a wonderful family activity as you and your loved ones sit around the TV and fireplace, sipping on a cup of hot cocoa, and watching Christmas classics such as Home Alone, A Christmas Story, and other crowd favorites that never get old no matter how many Christmas’ you may decide to watch them. What is Christmas without adorable and hilarious Christmas movies, anyways?
It doesn’t matter what you decide to do on Christmas day after opening presents, as long as you do it with family. The holiday season is a time to relax and enjoy, and show you loved ones how much you really care. Whether you are close or far, making an effort to show your love and appreciation is essential to a happy and warming holiday.
