When rituals collide...
As a child the rule at Christmas was this: open everything at once as fast as you can in a frenzied blur of hyper-consumerism.
So, we move forward in time (insert blurry Scooby Doo lines here) and I'm now married and spending Christmas with my inlaws for the first time.
They open
One. Present. At. A. Time.
And before opening each individual present they read the attached card, comment on how lovely it is, get up and wander over to kiss/thank the appropriate person, then carefully unwrap (as opposed to tear) the paper, admire the gift and show it around to everyone.
Then the next person repeats the process.
Whatever reaction you can imagine me having is probably not even close to reality.
( difficultchild, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 1:47, 6 replies)

Oh yes
My family too.

At our last christmas gathering there were 30 of us. Allowing for family-to-family presents rather than individual-to-individual present in some cases, that's still over 100 times where we have to go through the above.

Being an impatient child was way more fun
(Holy Gabrielle is Holy, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 3:19, closed)

I'm imagining you
deciding to live as a member of a new, invented gender. So you're right, it's probably not.
(apeloverage committed the vile act of onanism on, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 3:28, closed)

Actually,
you're almost spot on there.
( difficultchild, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 4:46, closed)

We do this
drives my missus mad.

first time we had Chrimbo morning at the in-laws, I was amazed when everyone just dived in and ripped open their presents.

When My grandparents were still alive, there'd be 13 of us in the house for Christmas and opening presents would take about four hours. Really.
(ScousersPet, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 9:57, closed)

just what I wanted
Ever thought of buying someone in the family a rampant rabbitt ??
(Betty Boothroyd's Love custard Tourettes at the KOB, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:31, closed)

Same here without the kissing
There's usually about 15 of us and 'present opening takes about 4 hours!

We even have to stop for a fag break some years!
(MadBouncyDog Barking at the moon since, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 21:19, closed)