How long has Christmas wishlists been a thing? Is parents giving their children a dozen presents a recent thing?
Posted by RookyRed@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 141 comments
Maybe I'm misremembering, but I remember as a child in the 80s and 90s, children used to get one or two presents, three at most. One from their parents, another one from grandparents, uncles, and aunties. Families usually bought a present collectively for each person.
I used to think that Christmas wishlists were a list that children make, so that their parents know what they like and can pick out one thing from it. Wishlists seem more orders now. I was gobsmacked when I learnt that children nowadays get dozens of presents for Christmas. This seems like greed and overconsumption.
Profession-Unable@reddit
I’m in my 30s and we always had lots of presents under the tree. At least six or seven, I’d say, ranging from socks and pyjamas to games and toys or whatever. Always got a book.
We weren’t particularly well off at the time either, I remember my friends getting much more than I did, or at least gifts of higher value.
I agree that we never got everything on our wish list, however.
ismokedwithyourmom@reddit
Same, my parents used Christmas as the main opportunity to purchase things we needed not just things we wanted (im retrospect I bet my dad got a bonus in December and it made sense financially). So we would wake up to loads of presents under the tree: a few toys but also normal clothes for school, books, toiletries, stationary, and such.
My sisters both figured this out and put things like this on the list. My parents happily bought the preferred version of things we needed, perhaps cool school shoes or the star wars backpack. I never learned - my list was always a shit ton of expensive electronic toys my parents weren't gonna buy.
Internet-Dick-Joke@reddit
Huh, well now I'm suddenly wondering if that's why it's always been a family tradition with my father that we get some kind of toiletries for Christmas. In my mind, it's always just been a minor family tradition with no real origins.
ismokedwithyourmom@reddit
That's always what I thought stockings were for: bunch of sweets and a new toothbrush to mitigate the damage
Aware-Conference9960@reddit
Yes I'm in my 40s and I remember that too
CuppaJos@reddit
Very much same here. One parent household with mum, me and my sister (now both in our 30s). Mum would usually get us socks, pjs, a book, some chocolate, notebook and pen, and one or two toys or gifts from the wish list (not expensive, within budget). And every single one meant the world.
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
We used to sit in the 80s/90s with the studio or Argos catalogue and circle what we wanted. That was the wish list.
RookyRed@reddit (OP)
But did your parents get you everything you circled? When I did that, I was only fantasising about having all these things.
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
I never got the Mr Frosty or the mini chocolate dispenser 😭
Strange_Ad854@reddit
I think I was spoilt, being an only child. I got both.You couldn't get replacement chocolate or the Mr Frosty flavour sachets though, so not great presets in the long run.
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
You could get replacements for the chocolate they came in a small box
Strange_Ad854@reddit
My mum said they were just decorations!
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
Um I hate to tell you this ...
Strange_Ad854@reddit
I actually still have it somewhere. It's getting the 2p's to put in it now, as I never use cash these days. Also, I swear Cadbury has a touch of the Hershey's now, so I don't buy it anymore.
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
Yeah it got ruined.
What I find worse is in the US dairy milk is made under licence by Hershey's and it's even worse
I'm low key mad about those 2 p machines I never got one but my brother did. To be fair to my parents they knew I wouldn't have been careful with it so I'd just get the refill box that's why I knew they existed plus back in the day you could also take the mini dairy milks and bournvilles out of the tin of roses
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
I think that’s my mum didn’t get me them lol
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
You didn't miss much the Mr frosty didn't work
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
I’ve seen that. It looks pretty cool but I’d probably use it twice then shove it in a cupboard
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
Oh same absolutely but I still want it lol. I wish I was rich enough to not care about spending £300 on something and only using it a couple of times lol
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
I fancy the coffee machine and ice cream one too, but I’m too poor!
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
Also the airfryer/pressure cooker. I too am too poor. Man I guess I really am an adult coveting kitchen appliances. I mean I'm 49 so legally been an adult a long time but still
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
The ninja air fryer is amazing! I love mine
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
Sadly even black Friday my bank account does not stretch to ninja things. I turn 50 in march I might treat myself
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
At that sucks, sorry. I managed to get a great discount with the Black Friday price, then an additional 20% off from a voucher they had, so it was almost half price. I wouldn’t have spent almost £300. I’m 50 next year, sad that at our age we’re getting excited about kitchen equipment!
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
Hey 76 buddy 😜 it's probably normal to be excited about kitchen appliances when you're almost 50 I just don't like acknowledging I'm almost 50 to the point that for my 50th I'm having a kids style party with pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey etc. the only difference is alcohol lol
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
I love that as a party plan! And true, but I don’t want to face being old lol
No-Alps4243@reddit
I got a mr frosty but it quickly became one of those toys that i wasnt allowed to use and it was put on top of the kitchen cupboard where I couldnt get to it.
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
I’ve heard afterwards that they were a bit crap, but young me desperately wanted one.
No-Alps4243@reddit
I dont remember what it was like. I just remember looking up at it sat on top of that kitchen cupboard and getting a hard no every time i asked to use it.
Same fate with my thundercats sword, too noisey so it vanished mysteriously
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
Haha I remember my brother having one of those
Therealgladsatsuma@reddit
I never got Mr Frosty but did have the Cadburys chocolate dispenser! 2p for a mini bar.
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
That was the one! I so wanted those two things lol
lcb1972@reddit
I found an original mr frosty in a charity shop a few weeks ago with the actual metal blade - wish I’d bought it now - never got one as a child so bought the new ‘safe’ one for my children and it was crap 😂😂
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
Oh wow lol
Trick_Maintenance115@reddit
Born in 90s, I circled a huge ridiculous amount and got a much smaller but still ridiculous amount.
fattfreddy1@reddit
No my parents never got me the lady in lingerie on page 132. Sadly
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
The pages were stuck together...
LingonberryPossible6@reddit
Depends on mostly your age, if you grew up in the 80's there was the recession, so you'd be lucky if you got more than a few.
stealthykins@reddit
Ah, those were the days. Browsing through the Book of Dreams with hope in our hearts.
Rumple-Wank-Skin@reddit
The laminated book of dreams to catch the tears of joy
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
I do it now electronically my to buy later listening on Amazon is extravagant
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
It was so amazing! Me and my brother spent hours over it lol
Upferret@reddit
Exactly.
gummibear853@reddit
The Laminated Book of Dreams!
Internet-Dick-Joke@reddit
I used to get given a piece of paper where I would draw out a table with columns for the page number, description/name and item code... come to think of it, that might have influenced my adult appreciation of a good spreadsheet...
rositree@reddit
Me too. Very much the book of dreams, reality didn't match up though. I'd get a main present and couple of smaller bits, maybe the wishlist would be a source of suggestions for grandparents, aunts and uncles but I was writing codes for about 60% of the catalogue - never got them all, funnily enough!
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
That’s pretty sophisticated as a kid! I love a good spreadsheet but I just circled stuff lol
Internet-Dick-Joke@reddit
Not really lol, I could never draw the lines straight so one column would end up being too thin near the bottom so I couldn't write in it. I had siblings though, so circling wasn't a great option as my mother wouldn't have known which kid wanted what.
Different coloured pens weren't much of an option, because the only pens we ever had in the house were ones my mother had nicked from places or that we got from school. Having to hunt for a pen that actually worked was like a whole pre-Christmas scavenger hunt.
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
lol, there were only two of us so we had different coloured pens
Comfortable-Bug1737@reddit
I definitely did this. My man and dad went overboard and we'd always get a main present
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
So many of us seem to have similar memories doing this!!
Comfortable-Bug1737@reddit
Only time we were spoiled, so loved it. My parents made it really special
MackCLE@reddit
Took me hours. Start with everything of interest then start on the narrowing down process.
Wasps_are_bastards@reddit
Same. Still one of the first things I think of when I see Christmas bits coming out!
pattybutty@reddit
Me and my brothers used to pore over the catalogues (Kays, Littlewoods, Argos) and each build a wish list to make sure we'd get the exact thing we'd wanted (no double copies or disappointment). Our mum loved this because it saved her time choosing while making sure money wasn't wasted on any unappreciated gifts. We'd never get everything off our lists, maybe 5-6 things at most.
Few_Relationship3532@reddit
List 20, get 5. They are options to choose from.
That’s a Christmas list.
TickTackTonia@reddit
Yeah this 12 presents thing is definitely new. I saw my friends Christmas tree once year - she has two kids. It was basically overflowing.
She had bought both of her sons 20 gifts each. We were lucky to get 4!
OneCheesecake1516@reddit
In the 50’s and 60’s wish lists existed but these were often sent up the chimney or by post to Father Christmas. They were normal one main present and secondary presents such as books, pens etc.
Nickjc88@reddit
My kids (got 3 of them) get one main present that they really want, a mix of other things they've picked and things we think they'll like and then a stocking from Santa. We try to give them around the same amount each but we do it based on price. If a main present for one of them costs £100 but the other 2 want something for £50, then we'll get more for the other 2. We try and keep it around £200 each which sounds steep but we buy throughout the year so theres little bits coming out rather a lump sum.
mmesuggia@reddit
I was a ‘65 baby and not from a particularly well off family. Always had a stocking ( actually a pillowcase ) full of little goodies. My parents later explained that those little gifts were to keep us occupied so we wouldn’t wake them at 5am through sheer excitement.
We always had lots of gifts, a few books, puzzles, board games, maybe a dress up outfit. Crafty stuff like paint sets or kits to make something. Plus a ‘big gift’ like roller skates or a bike or something similar-our bikes were always second hand and just cleaned up & repainted. We didn’t care, it was a bike!
FWIW I love wishlists, it really helps to get something the recipient actually wants rather than what the giver thinks will work.
Puzzleheaded_Pin2566@reddit
3 prezzies? That's a grinchmas!
AdThat328@reddit
I used to write a Christmas list...then I'd usually get something on it, plus several other presents as suprises. Always had a decent amount, it's definitely not new. Everything from toys and videos to socks and stationary.
itsxafx@reddit
i’m 20 and my family all do christmas lists.
we never have much (only my dad works - mum’s disabled with me being her carer) throughout the year but my parents did always go all out at christmas. we usually had our presents all piled up by the fireplace.
this year we’re tight on money and can’t do a “typical” christmas because we just can’t afford it. this is fine with me because there really isn’t much i want. meanwhile my sister (18) is demanding our parents simply cancel christmas for me and give her what they’d have spent on me for this year and next year because she feels it’s “unfair” that i’ve had two more “good” christmases than her.
NoisyGog@reddit
We were a working class family, and we (me and two siblings) used to have a lot of little stocking filler presents, like chocolates, some clothes, puzzles, books, and one “big” present, like a scalextrix set or an RC car.
We often knew a few of the smaller presents in advance, they were the presents “from our parents”. The big one was often a surprise, and we called them “Santa” presents - it was just a naming convention, we all knew they were from mum and dad as well.
Zealousideal_Pop3121@reddit
We used to get loads. One of my core childhood memories was going to bed with an empty Christmas tree and waking up to a flood of presents underneath. Turns out my mum would wrap any and everything we needed. So underwear, toiletries etc all under the tree.
timvw74@reddit
We have a large, mixed, , extended family and gifting can become quite difficult to keep track of. With nephews and nieces and cousins etc, all buying gifts, it is helpful to have a list of what people want. We use it for the the whole family, and expect a wide range of gifts and price ranges.
We ended up using wishlists so much, I ended up writing my own site: https://www.thewishlist.pro/
Wishlists are fine when used correctly, but if someone only has expensive wishes on their list, they are getting socks or deodorant.
PerfectRug@reddit
We wrote a letter to Father Christmas asking him for a list of things, or rather just listing ideas for things, knowing full well that we would not get most of the things listed. That was pretty normal in our family and for other kids at school. This was in the 90s.
Scottish_squirrel@reddit
You obviously didn't grow up with an Argos catalogue
RookyRed@reddit (OP)
I can't lie, I didn't. 😂 My parents never shopped there. I did have a Woolworths catalogue though.
LuKat92@reddit
When I was a kid (born in 1992) my parents always aimed to spend around £150 each on me and my sister. Even now we’re adults it’s still somewhere in the region of £80-100. And given how much cheaper things were in the 90s, that’s a fair few presents.
LJ161@reddit
We do a christmas list which gets sent out to the family so they can pick and choose what they get for them (of course I pick out stuff we want to get her) then we plan what shes going to ask santa for and of course we do that one as well.
DustInTheMachine@reddit
I'm an 80s child and we always wrote a letter to Father Christmas. We always got several presents from him and then under the tree presents from our extended family.
With my own children they had the same, they're now 12 and 22 and I always ask them for ideas and then send me a list of 10-20 things they would like. They know they won't get all of them, it's literally an ideas list. I share with their grandparents and other present buyers if they ask for gift ideas.
Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit
No it was a thing when I was a kid in the late 70s early 80s
CreativeChaos2023@reddit
We’d get a stocking from Father Christmas and three presents from our parents.
The stocking would have a book, some sweets, socks and knickers and something we liked.
Chip_A@reddit
I grew up in the 90’s and got so much stuff you wouldn’t be able to see the floor for gifts. It definitely isn’t a new thing, it’s just that people now share photos on social media and we see the difference between our normal and theirs.
Jsmith2127@reddit
I never received gifts as a kid, as my mother's religion doesn't celebrate Christmas. So I probably over compensate with my kids, with Christmas gifts, because I never got any. If it's on their list I get it, and then some.
My kids are in their 30s now, and they probably each will get at least 10 gifts ( if not more) this year.
Toc13s@reddit
As it was back then, depends on the family.
Brilliant-Soft-8817@reddit
When I was young i got 1 present from Santa and 1 from Mam and Dad to the value of 99/11½. Married with 3 kids and you couldn't get in the front room for presents
Darrowby_385@reddit
I've seen so many photos of Christmas trees surrounded by what looks like a slurry, a landfill, of presents.
Free_Ad7415@reddit
I hate wishlists. For kids I sort of get it, but I know many many adults who give out wish lists to their parents/partners. In all cases all parties are grown, work, and make their own money. They may as well just all give each other cash or not do gifts at all. Part of the fun of giving gifts is thinking of something a person would love, and surprising them with it.
Monsterofthelough@reddit
I made wish lists in the 80s (and certainly didn’t expect to get everything). It’s not a ‘kids today’ thing. I appreciate that family gift giving traditions vary widely.
Backinamo@reddit
I just think the random chav family who have wrapped up 100s of gifts is just very well publicised. Not sure it is the norm.
Internet-Dick-Joke@reddit
Having come from a comparable socio-economic background to those chav families, I'd say it's more that 100 gifts from Poundland doesn't actually cost more than 2-3 good, expensive presents. It's kind of like the holiday equivalent of fast fashion - cheap plastic tat that'll be broken and thrown out by June, but it's cheaper than anything actually meaningful that'll last.
Englishgirlinmadrid@reddit
When I was little I would sit flicking through the catalogues and circling things I liked. Then I wrote a letter to Santa. There was 0 expectation I would receive all the things on the list. It would usually be one, or maybe two or three items if they were smaller. The whole idea was so family members got inspiration, not a shopping list! Over consumption is so present these days. I think it takes away some of the joy of Christmas. I have witnessed kids in my family just ripping off wrapping paper and tossing the gift aside, not even caring what it was, just wanting to open the next one. They don’t even look who it’s from. When I was little I was taught to write a thank you letter to each family member who gave me a gift.
OK_LK@reddit
I'm 50, so grew up in the 70s, 80s and 90s
I remember having a list when I was in primary school, but it was mostly tiny tears or the prince William baby doll (no gender stereotyping here folks!)
I do remember the argos catalogue and starting to have an awareness of toys over and above what your friends and cousins had + TV adverts on STV
We got more than a couple of presents from santa, from the 70s thru the 80s
onlysigneduptoreply@reddit
Never got my whole list but usually 60 to 70% one main present then other stuff too. My son usually gets around 8 from us and then more from grandparents and aunts/uncles
Yaseuk@reddit
We had Christmas and birthday lists growing up in my house, but just because it was on the list didn’t mean we would get it. I’ve noticed a trend these days where if it’s on the list they get it which I don’t necessarily agree with. Christmas isn’t your birthday so I’m not gonna buy presents as such.
Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit
Wish lists always began “a pony”. I finally got given one for Christmas last year, I’m in my sixties now, but there’s a long story behind it and he cost the giver a tenner.
KatVanWall@reddit
We weren't in the slightest bit well off, we were poor in fact, but there was always a big stack of presents under the tree at Christmas!
They weren't expensive gifts though by a long shot. There'd be one 'big/main' present and the others would be what I suppose kids probably call stocking fillers these days. The fun of it was as much in having a lot to open as anything else really. Like, one gift would no doubt be a chocolate orange and there'd be things like books and items of clothing and bits of fun cheap stuff. But then I guess I was an easy child to buy things for, because I'd be into pretty much everything - craft, science, you name it - and didn't turn my nose up at anything. An umbrella or hat from Aunty Mabel would still be 'fun' to unwrap on some level.
I follow the same tradition with my kid in that I get one main present and a bunch of stocking fillers like fun stationery, sweets, a few little games etc.
amanset@reddit
I was born in the mid seventies.
Christmas lists were most definitely a thing.
ununpentium89@reddit
It's not new at all. Me and my brother made lists in the mid-late 90s by going through the Argos catalogue and circling things! We wouldn't get everything, but we got a decent amount. Our parents used to buy these giant Christmas themed plastic sacks and they would be stuffed full of our presents. We had a sack each. A lot of the presents were fairly inexpensive and were probably there to give volume, but we would usually have some "big" presents each year. We weren't rich, only my dad worked, and my mum looked after us and the house.
iamthefirebird@reddit
When my sister and I were growing up, I think it was more of a budget thing than a number. We'd get one big present, or a couple of medium ones, plus a few small token gifts like chocolate or stationary. Stockings count separately, of course, and are always full of small items of varying usefulness.
As for the wishlist, the expectation was never that we would get everything on the list, but our relatives didn't necessarily know what the Youth(tm) was into. Mum and Dad certainly found it helpful, but it was more for the benefit of the Aunts and Uncles we saw a few times a year, to give them an idea of what we were currently interested in. It was inspiration, not a checklist.
tradandtea123@reddit
I used to get loads to open in the 80s and 90s. Most of it was cheap crap from the market though. Seem to remember things like a packet of sweets being wrapped just so we got loads to open. On top of a main present, I'd often get a few books, as well as bits of tat.
No-Willingness-4097@reddit
I was a child of the 90s and got a lot of sticking filler stuff when 'santa' came, then a couple of bigger gifts, then my grandparents would take me toys r us and make both my parents mad by outdoing them.
lunettarose@reddit
I'm in my 40s, and we always had tons of presents at Christmas. Even when my parents were struggling financially, they somehow managed to get us a whole bunch of stuff to open, even cheap little toys and colouring books etc. They'd put them in binbags (then use the bin bags for the mountain of wrapping paper) at the foot of our bed. We might have had one main present, but we always had lots of little gifts.
Cheese-n-Opinion@reddit
Nah we definitely got a lot more than three presents. And for one thing they mostly came from 'Father Christmas' so the notion of one from the parents, one from auntie etc. is off base.
It would usually only be one or two largeish presents and a lot of smaller stuff. I wouldn't expect to get everything I asked for, but I can't remember ever being disappointed. Then again as a kid I had a rough sense of what was realistic to ask for.
Writing your list for Father Christmas was a whole tradition in itself. My mum or dad would give it a quick check for some reason and then it would whizz up the chimney and off to Lapland. Magic.
itsfourinthemornin@reddit
I got a variety of presents as a child and growing up, from both family and even family friends. I would exchange gifts with some friends too. My mum mostly took care of gifts, dad pretended to know what it all was. Grandparents, uncles, aunts would come after we'd had the morning together with theirs. My grandma would regularly go OTT on my brother, me and cousin.
Older now, mum still gets a few gifts for me. Generally gets me something useful for the house then a few other gifts. I have my own child too now. He generally gets a 'main' present from all (my parents and me) then some others gifts related to his interests, some practical stuff (clothes, bedsheets, etc.) and some treats. He gets a few gifts from his uncle, great-uncles and aunts then dad and dad's side of the family too. We usually get a 'wishlist' from him of what he would like for Christmas (by going to see the Big Man himself and writing him a letter), make best judgement (as some things are a no) then let family know his list. If they wish to get him extra that is their choice, too. We also get gifts for people too.
According-Couple2744@reddit
I was from a working class family with a stay-at-home mother. We didn’t get a lot during the year, but there was always a huge spread for Christmas.
Why_Teach@reddit
(Boomer here) I always got multiple presents from my parents and my kids (millennials) got lots of presents from their father and me. We didn’t do “wishlists” with my parents, but they asked and knew what we wished for. My daughter did (and does) wishlists, my son didn’t/doesn’t.
In my family you would get one or two presents that were “good” and a few other things that were relatively inexpensive or “useful” (like clothes). No one ever got everything they wanted.
CrowApprehensive204@reddit
As a kid I had one main present and smaller ones plus stuff from aunties, grandparents etc. As I got older there was less stuff. This was because my parents, like all parents, had a budget per child, and as you get older, the stuff you want is more expensive. Did the same with my kids. I did try and make Christmas more fun for my kids though, my mother moaned and grumbled her way through Christmas, didn't like decorations, didn't like us being off school and under her feet.
rycbar99@reddit
I’m 35 and used to get lots of presents. I am an only child so that probably has a lot to do with it but my mum still can’t break the habit, every year she’ll say ‘this is all you’re getting’ and as much as I assure her..that’s absolutely fine. She always buys more. It does mean I buy lots of presents for people I love now too as that’s what I witnessed growing up. My husband is a one present family.
Effective-Egg-7090@reddit
90’s kid here and always got loads of presents at Christmas, definitely more than 1 from parents etc. I have a 5 year old and we always tell him he can make a list but won’t get everything on that list. In our house we do one gift from Santa and the stocking is also from Santa, then everything else is from us and extended family.
Vamperstein-Bex@reddit
Writing a wishlist, circling the argos catalogue, writing a letter to Father Christmas, it might be done in different ways, but it's still the same thing.
Its always been the case that people do Christmas in lots of different ways, including how many presents. Me and my brother always got quite a lot, but I had friends who got more presents or got less presents some who got lots of expensive things others only cheap things.
Online, you can see videos of people buying hundreds of presents for their kids and others do the four gift rule.
welshcake82@reddit
I’m in my 40’s and we got lots of presents under the tree, so did all my friends from memory. It was normal to circle toys in the Argos catalogue- you didn’t expect to get all of them but certainly more than one. I grew up in a working/lower middle class at best area.
ayeImur@reddit
Grew up in the 80s, wrote a list every year & got everything on it plus more 'surprises' probably 30+ gifts from 'santa'
My kids are older teens, I still make them write a list & they also still get surprises. Last year they got 36 gifts each, (i know the exact amount because i buy stickers with their names on them) although some were very low price items because of the expensive designer items they asked for. Christmas was always an ott occasion when I was a kid & I guess I've just done the same for my kids without really thinking about it.
Altruistic_Ad_7061@reddit
80-90’s kid. I always got about 10 presents. One main present and then smaller items.
Familiar-Donut1986@reddit
I'm 39, I always got loads of Christmas presents from my parents. Some were tiny things, like I always used to get a box of tissues (one of the little square pretty boxes), and some were things they'd have bought me anyway, like pyjamas and socks etc, and some were things I wanted or they thought I'd like, like books or games or toys etc. But I certainly never only had one present.
random_username_96@reddit
90s kid and always got loads of presents - like 20 or so? Apart from our birthdays we weren't really treated to things through the year, our parents saved up and splurged at Christmas.
LaraH39@reddit
I'm 52 I remember aged 4/5/6/7/8 sitting with my mum, writing my letter to Santa and sending it up the chimney on Xmas eve. So that was 77-80.
When I came down on Xmas morning all my presents were laid out on the sofa, games, toys, clothes.
Not a new thing.
Worried-Penalty8744@reddit
Christmas Eve? Talk about last minute Larry
My kids Christmas lists disappear to the north pole as soon as those horrible elves appear on the 1st. God I can’t wait for them to fuck off to a family with younger kids, hopefully next year
Still raging at their mum for introducing them to it
LaraH39@reddit
I mean... My parents had already bought my presents. My list went to Santa on Xmas eve because he's magic. They already knew what I wanted and I was always told I would never get everything on my list and Santa might cost to give me things he thought I might like.
I asked for a pony every year. Never got one though lol
Pinkcoral27@reddit
I got an extreme amount of presents in the 00’s. My kids get 5-6 presents plus some new pjs.
beepbop24hha@reddit
I was born in 94, as far back as I can remember we used to circle the Argos catalogue which was our version of a wish list. My siblings and I used to also get our main present from Santa, a sack of presents from our parents and then gifts on top from extended family.
Riovem@reddit
I don't think it's a generation thing. It's a family thing. My mum would go mad at Christmas, still does, probably 50 presents from Santa and another 10-20 from her. Not huge, expensive presents. Normally a few main presents and the rest were either silly, essentials or consumable. Heck, she'd get us easter presents too!
And I'm now 30 and there's still presents from Santa and several from my mum.
And I think that's just how my family is, we like giving gifts even if they're cheap. It's my boyfriend's birthday today and I spent months looking for gifts for him, even last year with my ex when I was unemployed I spent ages finding things I could afford and taking the time to learn to make things to ensure he had a lot of gifts for his birthday.
Nym_Nightingale@reddit
It's called a WISH list. You never get everything you WISH for. I never did and so does my kid. That's ridiculous.
chiefgareth@reddit
When I was a kid, we'd probably have at least 15 presents each to open on Christmas Day.
Present opening was a big thing that would take the entire morning.
mchammatime2025@reddit
Slightly off topic but I remember I desperately wanted a fairy princess type dress and my mum told me if I wished hard enough for things Santa would bring them. For some reason I thought wishing was enough and never put the dress on my Christmas list and Santa would just know to gift me one. I never got the dress and told my mum years later how disappointed I was as a little girl but never said anything. She felt so bad but she never knew. I used to write all kinda of things on my list that were unrealistic (a puppy, a gazllion dollars etc) Santa never brought those either 🤣
superkinks@reddit
In the 90s I got huge piles of gifts for Christmas, my kids actually get significantly less than I did growing up. On the other hand they’re always really happy with their little hauls and get pretty much everything they want.
OrganizationFun2140@reddit
Child of the 60s. We were asked for present ideas from around 10 years of age but didn’t expect to get everything. We always got multiple presents, mix of practical (clothing) and toys, games, books etc. Tended to be one big gift and lots of little ones, often enough to fill a black bin bag per child. Youngest sister counted parcels and would be in a bad mood all day if anyone had more than her. Family would be considered lower middle class
LBS87@reddit
I'm a Mum of 3 aged 19, 10 and 8 and I've never overly spoilt my boys with dozens of gifts for Christmas or for birthdays. They are allowed to tell us a list of gifts they would like but they are made aware that they won't receive every gift they ask for. I personally believe spoiling children just leads to them expecting they'll receive everything they want in life, which just isn't realistic. The most I've ever brought them is maybe 8 gifts each. Even if money was no object I still wouldn't shower them with gifts. It's each to their own but that's my personal view.
twogunsalute@reddit
Personally we would get one present each in our family but every family is different.
Though I do think social media definitely plays a part. Photos of a tree with a pile of presents underneath on Christmas eve are ubiquitous, along with the photos/videos of everyone opening all of the presents.
Christmas has been about greed and over consumption for a while now.
loupenny@reddit
Im in my 30s and had a big pile of presents as a kid, enough to cover a whole 2 person sofa. Always remember how they'd be beautifully "arranged" with like a little teddy peeking over one and sweets/candy canes interspersed. However I grew up thoroughly middle class with a wealth level I can only aspire to as an adult with 2 young kids myself now!!
liebackandthinkofeng@reddit
My husband and I have agreed that less is more for our children. We have a 1 year old and another baby on the way and we feel strongly that we don’t want them to ‘expect’ lots of presents at Christmas. We will do a December box with some Christmassy things to enjoy over the month as a family, a small stocking with small bits in (chocolate, bubbles, a new bath toy etc) and then 1 big present on Christmas Day along with 2 or 3 other bits - books, games etc. We probably won’t buy toys or clothes as my daughter gets given so many from friends and family. We also feel strongly that if we can buy second hand then we will. I would rather instil a love for family time together (baking cookies for Santa, going to a Christmas light switch on etc) than spending money on toys that overwhelm her on Christmas Day.
FinnemoreFan@reddit
I’m in my fifties. My siblings and I always had loads of presents on Christmas morning. Loads! We carried this on with our own children.
I didn’t submit a wish list though. Not that I remember.
Squeak_Stormborn@reddit
Every family is different but it's definitely not a new thing to spoil kids. In the 90s, we had piles of presents under the tree. In all the Christmas films set then, there are piles of them. And we always had lists for Santa.
Princes_Slayer@reddit
I was born late 70’s. Parents working class in the north of England. We would have one main present (like a stereo, tv, computer…usually second hand as dad could fix up duds), but we would get plenty of other smaller toys and my mum wrapped everything. Even down to the satsuma and chocolate bars in our stocking. We would then get a single gift from aunt/uncle and grandparents.
thehoneybadger1223@reddit
NE England, I grew up this way as well. We'd get a main present, usually what we wanted the most, I remember a second hand bike being it once, and other smaller bits of tat like those flour filled things with faces on from Kwiksave or another low-budget shop, We'd always get at least one book, then underwear, socks which were taken out of the packs and wrapped individually. We'd get a lot of cheap little things, but we were grateful for that. Our aunts, uncles and grandparents would usually get us something each or send money
Japhet_Corncrake@reddit
We had them in the 70s/80s. Never got everything, or would have expected to.
Got a few presents from mum and dad though, usually one big thing, like a bike or an electric guitar, down to pants or socks.
Boredpanda31@reddit
I was a 90s/00s child, and we always got more than 2 or 3 presents. We tended to get 1 big present (so one year I got an expensive pram, as we got older that might have been a console or phone), but we got smaller represents as well.
__The_Kraken__@reddit
My parents were always open about the fact that they were going to spend the same amount on my sister and me. The year I asked for a Teddy Ruxpin, that was pretty much all I got. If we asked for lower priced items, there could be quite a few of them.
fattfreddy1@reddit
Been doing a Christmas list since 1975 when I was 4. Mum gave my brother and I the John England catalogue along with the argos one and told us to make lists. I’m not saying we got everything on the list but it gave them an idea of what we wanted. We did that until the early 80’s when we got a little too old. We got one or two big/main gifts then a dozen or so littler things.
Professional-Day6965@reddit
I'm a child of the 80s/ early 90s and used to get far more than 1 present. A dozen from my parents seems about right. 1 big, 4/5 medium then stocking fillers.
I'm quite sure I don't buy my daughter more than I received at her age.
2cbterry@reddit
I remember the good old days of folding down the corners of the Argos catalogue, then circling the specific items. I think my mum shared the ‘list’ with the family and I got what I got and didn’t get what I didn’t. Not forgetting the credit crunch and I had a single mum, bless her.
AverageCheap4990@reddit
I'm kid of the 90%, we used to get so much stuff I don't know how my parents did it.
Spicy_Wimp@reddit
90s kid. Always got about 50 presents, all ranging in price. Always made a wishlist of about 5 things I wanted and never got even one thing on my list.
Real_Run_4758@reddit
our presents were cheap, but plentiful and thoughtful.
Fellsy8@reddit
I don't think this is a new thing at all?
I would make a Christmas list and would get the majority of items asked for, though not all. I would estimate on average, my parents got me around 20 presents, though it could be a little more or less depending on the value.
My paternal grandparents would normally only get me a couple and my maternal around 5.
I think Aunts and Uncles would just get me one or money in a card.
1970s/80s.
StrengthForeign3512@reddit
I don't think some kids getting loads more than others is a new thing, tbh. My kids get about 3 presents each from us and then a gift from various friends and family members. There's no hard and fast rule here, and I don't really pay any regard to what other families choose to do. Each to their own on this one imo.
Excellent-Egg484@reddit
I was heavily spoilt at Christmas as a child, and I do the same for my son. He doesn’t get all the time so Christmas and birthdays I spoil him. If I have the money he can have it.
DareSudden4941@reddit
this is going to be a shitstorm lol
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