Our Unspoken (Until Now!) Christmas Tradition

‘Tis the season for traditions! Perhaps no other time of the year hosts such an abundance of holiday rituals as the month of December. Some of our favorites include decorating the tree, watching holiday movies, hanging ornaments on the advent calendar, baking once-a-year goodies, attending various festivities, and, of course, rising unusually early on Christmas morn for a day full of family fun.

In the midst of a multitude of traditions, one has crept into our home quite unexpectedly and with little fanfare – the tradition of placing the first gift under the Christmas tree. No one anticipates who will be the recipient of that first gift, but all are eager to buy, wrap, and place a gift under the tree before any other family member.

It began with Mike who, as soon as the tree was up, the decorations were in place, and the empty boxes were returned to the garage, would sneak out to his car and reappear with several wrapped gifts for me. After a few years, I began purchasing at least one gift before we decorated in order to be able to reciprocate, yet failed to succeed in putting the first present under our tree.

Brandon eventually caught on to his parents' game. Last year, as soon as the skirt was in place, Brandon ran to his room and reappeared with the first wrapped gift to be placed under the decorated tree, taking everyone by surprise.

This year, I observed the scheming weeks before the tree was up. Well before Thanksgiving, my enthusiastic sons each used their own money to buy a gift for a brother. Brandon, the first to make his purchase, convinced me he must wrap his gift to Zachary in an attempt to hide it from his mischievous youngest sibling. His brothers unknowingly, yet just as cleverly, followed his example and sought out paper, scissors, and tape to prepare their packages.

So what happened this year? As boxes of decorations were being brought into the house, Nicholas inconspicuously placed his wrapped gift under a blanket near the bottom of the steps. When the last ornament was hung and the tree skirt was neatly wrapped around the stand, all three boys raced away. Nicholas’ extra preparatory step of having the gift nearby enabled him to reappear first, place it beneath the tree, and be declared this year’s winner!

Without a doubt, my sons love getting gifts at Christmas. In fact, if forced into a confession, each would probably admit that their favorite part of the holiday is seeing all of their new toys and gadgets on Christmas morning. Therefore, I have whole-heartedly embraced our undeclared (until now!) Christmas tradition that involves tremendous eagerness to be the first to give a gift rather than receive one!

“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7b