In my family, we usually are allowed to open one gift on Christmas ever (not a big one - usually just a small one) and then the rest we open on Christmas morning. I'm pretty sure this tradition started as a way to calm us kids down on Christmas Eve as the anticipation was building.
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This year since I'm traveling for Christmas, I'll open any presents that were mailed to me before I leave, then anything I get while on my trip I'll open on X-mas morning!

I hope I get something that makes me this excited:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFlcqWQVVuU
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We have a tradition of choosing ONE present from under our tree to open on Christmas Eve. When I was little my mother always picked for me, and I wound up wearing some bizarre Christmas-themed pajamas...think pink bunny suit from "A Christmas Story" and you won't be far off. The rest of our presents are opened on Christmas morning, leaving us the remainder of Christmas Day to play with our new toys.
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my kids get to open presents Christmas Eve - they already "suffered" long enough.... Santa comes to my house just after dinner and leaves presents under the tree when kids are distracted with something of-course ;)
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I usually get together with my family on Christmas day and we open them in the afternoon. When I was a kid, however, I'd run downstairs at about 5:30 a.m. and jump up and down until the rest of my family was awake.

If I'm just meeting up with friends, I open the presents whenever they give them to me. I don't want to wait for presents.
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Half of my family leaves the morning of Christmas Day to spend the day with their in-laws so we cram all of Christmas (including the opening of presents) into Christmas Eve night. It's worked great for our family and allows everyone to spend the holiday with all of their loved ones.
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When my kids where little we opened gifts on Christmas morning and it was always me hollering at 5 in the morning to wake them up!

Now that my kids are older and live off on their own its crazy. Since there is another set of parents involved and I have to share, we open gifts every other year on Christmas eve. Then the following year they come over on Christmas day! Works for me, I only have to cook one Christmas dinner every two years.
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