Started when DH and I were newlyweds, mostly because we’re both impatient. Now it’s weirdly practical. Whenever the tree is up and the presents are wrapped, any day is fair game for Christmas. One year was November 27th, but usually we wait until the 17th or so. This is the closest to real Christmas Day that we’ve ever made it. The short answer is we’re the traveling family, so it’s nice for the kids to open their presents and play a few days before we travel to someone else’s house. That way we get to have our traditions without messing up someone else’s.
The long answer is that Christmas is a season, and we feel welcome to celebrate our love for each other at any time we decide. There’s no biblical proof that Jesus was born on any particular day, the date was chosen as part of the church calendar. Or maybe I’m wrong, sometimes I get my wires crossed. Regardless of that, it fits my family to do it this way, at least for now. Maybe one day we’ll straighten up. Or not.
I do think it takes a lot of the stress off, because I need my shopping done in November. Usually I’m not fighting crowds, but I got behind on it all this year.
