An observation on how families unwrap gifts:

1. Serial: Presents are removed one at a time from under the tree, handed to the recipient, who opens it, oohs and aahs, and shows it around. Repeat.

   Pros: Each gift (and giving) gets full attention. Easy to clean up wrapping as you go.
   Cons: Takes forever with large groups.

   Notes: Easiest in small groups and for Extremely Orderly People. This is how my parents did it with us growing up, and how we still do it with them, and at home.

2. Parallel: Multiple gifts are handed out in a batch. Gifts are opened not quite simultaneously, but as attention naturally drifts. Uncle Fred just pulled out a bundle of socks? Start unwrapping your own gift.

   Pros: Individual gifts get attention, proceeds at reasonable speed, minimal boredom.
   Cons: Possible to miss out, bump heads in sequence, etc. Highlights when one person runs out of gifts under the tree.

   Notes: This is how gifts get done at the Ks.

3. Gang Bang: Gifts get handed out as quickly as they can be identified, and are opened as quickly as they are received. Paper and ribbons fly.

   Pros: Maximum throughput, good for large groups. General high pitch of revelry/Keystone Kops fun.
   Cons: Uncertainty if someone got your gift to them or liked it. Don't get to see what other folks got. Easy to lose track of who gave you what. Unopened gifts can get buried under wrapping of other gifts. Maximizes sense of "receiving" at cost of "giving."

   Notes: This is how we tend to do the gifting with John's family (or at least we did last night).

So, did I miss any modalities?

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Quoth Les ...

There are variations between those as well. For example, in both of my families we tend to fall somewhere between number 2 and number 3 and part of the fun is yelling out "LOOKIT WHAT I GOT!" at the top of your lungs for a touch of number 1 in among the madness.

I grew up as a 1, but now we have 3, made even more difficult by not having everyone in the same room. We had 15 at Christmas Eve and were spread over 2 rooms. I find it less than satisfying, but I don't get to choose.

We had 11 adults and 6 kids at my folks for Christmas dinner, which was definitely above carrying capacity. :-)

Serial.

Actually, we're mode 4: Hand out everything to everyone, so that you've got your pile of stuff in front of you -- allow anticipation to built over low flame throughout. Lick lips.

Some shouts "okay, go!" and you just try to keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

Afterwards -- and this is the key part, we go around the room and everyone recounts what they recieved, and from whom. It's the "and from whom" part that we try and fail to drill into the kids every year, and which keeps the adults checking on their kids throughout.

Wow... sure a lot of typos in there... I need some sleep.

I think that's a variant on version 3 -- though the "and from whom" part is, as you note, important. We kept trying to watch Katherine and drum into her to read the tag before she opens the gift. We're also going to try some thank-you notes this year from her.

Well, this was an unusual Christmas for me, as I actually had a gift to open (thanks again, Dave). So, which method would apply to me?

I would say that's version 1 (since the others imply multiple people). :-)