I had rented Final Fantasy 7 from Blockbuster so many times that my brother decided to get it for me for Christmas. Even though I never really snooped for presents he decided to mess with my head and wrapped it in two large bath towels and put it in an even larger box. This giant package below the tree for me, and it sounded like cloth - I figured it must've been a jacket or something until I opened it.
Another time I was looking for something (not presents) in my parent's room, and happened to find a very poorly hidden Playstation 2 from my father. The waiting until Christmas part was fitting punishment for accidental snooping.
Some of the finest memories are just a jumble of similar situations though. Christmas Eve was the night my entire local family would gather at my maternal grandmother's house, and we'd all have a big meal and sit around chatting afterwards.
Then there's that one Christmas Eve when I asked my now-wife to marry me. I knew she'd say yes but there's always that little bit of fear about it. I wanted to ask when everyone I loved would be around.
Time sure flies. Both my father and my maternal grandmother have passed since the last time we all celebrated Christmas together.