Christmas is really a series of moments, and every family has a favorite part of the holiday. This One Gotta Go card asks you to give up one of four: Christmas Eve night with all its anticipation, Christmas morning with the gifts, Christmas dinner with family, or the peaceful day after Christmas.
Three moments stay on your holiday calendar, and one disappears. Think about what you look forward to most, what you remember from childhood and what you could live without. Then make your pick and share your family's favorite Christmas tradition with everyone.
The 4 choices on this card
A. Christmas Eve night (anticipation)
Christmas Eve night is full of anticipation, from candlelight services to leaving cookies out and trying to fall asleep. It is magical for kids. For adults, it can be a rush of wrapping and last minute prep, which makes it a fair cut.
Keep it if: You love the quiet excitement, your family's Christmas Eve traditions and the feeling that something wonderful is coming.
B. Christmas morning (gifts)
Christmas morning means gifts, pajamas and the joy of opening presents together. It is the moment many kids dream about. Once you are older, the excitement can fade, which is why some adults say they could give up this part.
Keep it if: You still love watching everyone open their gifts and the whole family in pajamas with coffee.
C. Christmas dinner (family)
Christmas dinner brings everyone together at one table for the biggest meal of the year. It is about family and food. It also takes the most work, and some families find dinner the most stressful part of the day.
Keep it if: You love a full table, your family's special dishes and long conversations after the meal.
D. Day after Christmas (peace)
The day after Christmas is peace, leftovers and nowhere to be. It is the reward after the rush. Since it is not technically part of the holiday, many people would cut it first and never notice.
Keep it if: You treasure a slow day in pajamas, eating leftovers and enjoying your new gifts.
Our take
We would cut the day after Christmas. It is lovely, but it is really the cool down from the holiday rather than part of it. The most fun debate usually comes down to Christmas Eve against Christmas morning, since one is all anticipation and the other is the big payoff. Ask everyone which moment they would keep if they could only have one, and you will hear some wonderful family traditions in the answers. Cocoa optional but encouraged.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which is the better day: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
- Does your family open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
- What is your favorite Christmas dinner dish?
- What holiday moment would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Christmas Eve vs Christmas Day: quick answers
Do some families open presents on Christmas Eve?
Yes. Many families open some or all of their gifts on Christmas Eve, a tradition common in parts of Europe and Latin America and among many American families. Others open one gift on Christmas Eve and save the rest for Christmas morning. Some families also attend a Christmas Eve church service or share a special meal that night, which makes the evening feel like the main event.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is a holiday on December 26 celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries. It has historical roots in giving gifts to workers and the needy. Today it is often a day for shopping, sports and relaxing with family.
