I usually go home for Christmas, but for other holidays/birthdays sometimes my mom will send me things and say “Don’t open it until X!”. I’ll nod and mhmm and say “Sure, mom”, then open it the day it arrives.
I do wanna say, that if you are all alone, then eating a birthday cake sitting alone in a hotel room and singing “Happy Birthday to me…” is pretty damn pathetic. I should know….
I open mine on the day.
I don’t celebrate Xmas, and I don’t have a bunch of fond memories of it as a kid, so I wait until that morning and try to make nice for myself.
Never.
I haven’t accepted holiday gifts or cards for about 20 years now.
Cards get shredded unopened, gifts get binned unopened.
Mailed presents get opened Christmas Eve. Cards get opened on delivery.
This is my answer too. I opened my mom’s present on my 50th birthday just minutes before she called.
I’m single, don’t put up a tree and open my presents (if I get any) when they arrive. It’s the thought that counts, right?
My grandmother would be unhappy if I didn’t wait until the proper day. I love her and like to keep her happy.
When I was in training and not able to get vacation for the holidays, I would wait until Chrstimas Day unless the giver specifically asked me to open a particular package earlier. Generally though the years I didn’t get home I’d volunteer for call so I spent most of the day in the hospital anyway.