Skipping ahead to Christmas... Like most families, I suppose, our tradition was to open family gifts on Christmas eve. Santa's gifts were opened on Christmas morning and that was followed by way too much food, drink, family, Christmas day parades and football.
This tradition was turned upside down when we lived in Perth, Australia. After opening presents on Christmas morning, that was followed by a day at the beach usually with champagne and a few shrimp on the barbie.
As much as I enjoyed my time in Aussie land, there was just something not quite right with spending Christmas at the beach.