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[quote=Anonymous]My family is not Christian, my parents immigrated from the middle east many years ago, so much of this is probably cultural.

My father owns a firm and has many clients and staff gift him presents during Christmas. When my sister and I were growing up, we often had a Christmas tree and sort of did a Christmas celebration (opened gifts, had a big dinner, etc). My family would give each of us maybe one or two gifts, and my sister and I would exchange a gift. However, my father felt the need to open all the gifts he received from work at that time. So we'd often sit there while he opened 10-15 gifts. If we ever had any other family celebrate with us, I often gave them a gift so that they would have something to open in the face of all this awkwardness.

My sister and I are in our thirties now, and DH and I just had the first grandchild. My parents are having extended family come for Christmas and my family as well.  But Christmas at home hasn't changed at all. Our extended family also doesn't really celebrate Christmas , but I know that they will be bringing gifts for our DC. I know that my parents are buying gifts for our DC and for DH and me, and DH and I have already purchased a combined gift for my folks. Now my fear is that we'll continue to spend our Christmas watching my father open all his gifts, watch my DC "open" about 5 gifts, and have everyone watch me and DH open a gift each, while most of the guests don't get to open anything. I asked my mom to please find gifts (however small) for the rest of the family (at least others in the same age group as DH and me), but they said that they felt like they gave them enough all year and didn't see a need to give them a gift right now.

That leaves continued awkwardness. I actually have no idea how many people and who will be there for Christmas. I'm thinking of asking my folks to not open any gifts during Christmas and only allow gifts for my DC to be opened, but am wondering if any of you had any other solutions? I'm not really up for buying a ton of gifts for people who may or may not be there on Christmas day, but have a few ideas for a couple of people. I really wish gifts weren't a part of Christmas, I wish it were more like Thanksgiving. And since they're not Christian, I really wish they wouldn't "pretend."

Ugh.

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