I remember the time when us kids would have trouble sleeping as the anticipation and the stack of gifts seemed to grow tenfold overnight. Dad wasn't much help (getting us to sleep, that is) as we were to be in bed before midnight, and he'd be outside jingling some sleigh bells just to keep the illusion as real as possible.

My most memorable childhood gift would have to be the Bobby Hull Hockey table game (the flat plastic guys who rode a slot in the table controlled with metal rods... etc. (BlackHawks -vs- NorthStars for anyone who cares) It was not only the biggest package I've ever seen (I was seven at the time) it was the only thing I wanted and I think we played it non-stop for a year. I still have it if anyone is up for a game!

Anyone else care to share a favorite gift memory or a tradition that made your childhood 'larger than life'?