Growing up we always hung our stockings on the doorknob and in the morning we could get up and empty them out in our rooms and play with them as much as we liked until our parents got up. In the stocking were lots of little things and usually one major present (I'm talking a dolls pram, or a little electronic piano - not super expensive, but more special than the usual socks and jocks type thing.) Then when our parents got up at the more reasonable hour of 8.00ish we would have breakfast and then gather around the tree. There were usually a couple of presents from Santa, but always one from Mum & Dad too. And then the rest were from family and friends. And we also would sit and watch each other unwrap their presents so that everyone got the joy and excitement and got to appreciate the gifts at the same time.

We will be following the same tradition, because I really loved waking up at stupid o'clock (but not before 6am!! That was the rule!) and going through my stocking by myself... then gathering it all up and taking it in to my brothers room and looking at what we each got. And then going to the tree after breakfast and really appreciating the 'gift of giving' with each other. I remember being just as excited to give my presents as I was to receive them. And I think if there wasn't a present from Mum and Dad, the people that cared about us the most we might have felt a little disappointed. Admittedly I probably wouldn't have questioned it at all when I was 3, but I think by 4 I would have wondered why!

We still do the stocking thing too as adults - my brother and I still use the same ones we had as children.... way back in the 70s!!