Bit different from the other posts, but my best Xmas was when I was 9.
Xmas morning, woke up freezing cold to see snow on the ground through the iced up window. We only had one fire so that's where I opened my presents. I would always get an orange or tangerine in my xmas stocking and some special xmas candy packs like double size packs of maltesers or opal fruits. There were no replica jerseys in those days, but there were cheap brands that made jerseys so red with white trim was Man U, red with red was Liverpool, blue with white was Everton, gold with black was Wolves etc. No stripes or hoops available back then. I got the Wolves jersey (which I actually wanted as it was the flashiest one!) Also got a pair of black long football socks! And, joy of joy, I got an Action Man deep sea diver that emitted bubbles underwater when you blew through a tube.
Went to church at 8 a.m. with my Mum. My Dad never went to church, but this year he was ill in bed with Asian flu which had knocked out everybody that winter and was quite nasty with a lot of old people dying from it.
I didn't like church, but xmas morning was special, so I didn't mind going. Walking back with only two inches of snow on the ground, the sun came out so everything was bright and sparkling and fresh looking.
Well, when I reached back home, my Dad was up. He told me to look in the garden at the snowman he built. When I looked out, there was no snowman. Instead there was a brand new goalpost with an orange goalnet!!
That was the coolest thing ever! Looking back, the goalpost was pretty cheap. Just half inch tubing. But I know it was a really expensive gift for my parents to buy. By lunchtime, there were about 10 of us kids playing football in the snow. It was the only goalpost in our housing estate!!
I remember being totally soaked through, freezing and covered with mud. Went indoors and bathed and watched some tv on our black and white set (I remember Thunderbirds, I think, which was the best programme ever).
Then my sisters arrived for xmas dinner and I got more presents.... an airfix model plane kit and a James Bond DB5 with guns and ejector seat.
What a great xmas!!!
The joy I had from those unexpected gifts would surpass the kids nowadays when they get their x boxes and mobile phones. Everything to day is expected, matter of fact, must haves.
The best xmas present that I wish I could give my kids is to let them experience my best xmas. But they wouldn't be impressed!