A question is repeated in countless Portuguese homes when the month of December arrives. The gifts must be opened on the night of December 24th, right after Christmas, or on the morning of the 25th, transforming the awakening into a moment of surprise. The theme is simple, but it touches on the family routine and the way Christmas is celebrated in each home.
Predominant practice in Portugal and its origin
According to the RTP website, many Portuguese families maintain the tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, after the meal that brings generations together around the table.
Christmas Eve is, for many, the highlight of the celebrations. Traditional dishes that vary by region are served around the table and conversations and memories continue.
Opening the gifts at this time prolongs the conviviality, allows everyone, grandparents, parents and children, to share the moment and inserts the act of exchange into the evening’s ceremony itself. Not all families follow this cadence.
The choice between night and morning depends on practical factors. When there are small children, when family members are traveling or when rest after Midnight Mass is preferred, the morning of the 25th ends up being the most comfortable and sometimes most exciting option for the youngest.
Regional variations and practical reasons
In regions where Christmas Eve is late or where religious tradition dictates going to Midnight Mass, some families exchange gifts on the morning of the 25th. In this scenario, the tree is loaded with packages during the night and the awakening becomes a collective discovery.
In other homes, one or two presents are opened at night to calm the children’s anxiety and the bulk is left for the next morning. These nuances reflect a fit between tradition and logistics, not a break with cultural heritage.
Family Choice
The decision is rarely just symbolic. Schedules, ages of family members, religious habits and even the geography of travel influence it. There are those who prefer the intimacy and symbolism of nighttime exchange, and there are those who value daylight and the surprise effect of awakening. In some homes, the two practices coexist: a gift opened at night and the rest identified for the morning.
In the end, what is preserved is the social function of the gesture. The exchange of gifts is linked to the family reunion, strengthening bonds and building memories that last beyond the court.
According to , the way each family organizes this moment reveals both the continuity of customs and their ability to adapt to contemporary routines.
The choice between night and morning always raises the same question, but the answer lies in the practices of each house. What counts is not so much the time marked on the clock but the sense of meeting and sharing around the tree.
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