Question: Does/did Santa leave gifts wrapped or unwrapped?
Survey winner: WRAPPED.
Results: “Wrapped” barely pulled out the win with 16 votes for wrapped and 13 votes for unwrapped (I counted some of you Facebook friends as two votes if you explained your spouse’s/sig. other’s preference in addition to your own. Plus, I added my own and my husband’s votes).
Analysis: First, I never guessed this debate would be so close. I grew up with wrapped gifts, and – as this blog is supposed to illustrate – assumed “everyone” did it the way my family did. My husband grew up with unwrapped and assumed that everyone did it that way. Hence, the first “But Everyone Does it This Way” blog entry. Many of you seemed to feel the same certainty about your own tradition. My cousin Lyn said it well: “I’m fascinated… I never considered that it was any other way.”
Other survey comments:
From Bryan: “UNWRAPPED! The elves are busy making the gifts and don’t have time to wrap them. And, for reasons unknown, Santa’s time-warping ability works only for delivering gifts, so he doesn’t have time to wrap any of them.”
From David: Cannot believe how many people DON’T wrap. Part of the allure is waking up, seeing gifts, and wondering what the heck is in there?! Plus, how do you know it’s for you or a sibling? Of course it’s wrapped, labeled, and in Santa paper! (Now I’m wondering if un-wrapped has some benfits. It’d be waaaaay easier for Santa.)
From Christine: Unwrapped, definitely! Out of the packaging unwrapped, too, since Santa makes everything himself at the North Pole & puts it in his bag to deliver to good boys and girls. I have a b-i-l who won’t budge on this issue, though, and it is a sore point between my sister and him.
From Erica: Wrapped- that is a huge part of the fun to unwrap! Must be opened on Christmas morning and in different paper then used by your Mom and Dad. 
Prediction: It does seem like many of those who went with the unwrapped route went that way for simplicity. Some also made the point that it’s more eco-friendly. I hate to admit it, but those factors – because of our feeling of being too busy during the holidays and a desire to take the Earth-friendly route – may change future survey results for Team Wrapped (as Diane called it). It even made me, a hard-core wrapping fan, doubt my decision. Don’t tell my husband yet, though. Tradition is hard to give up.
Final random thoughts: A few of you who referred to a difference of opinions with a spouse on this issue showed a tendency toward going with the husband’s family’s tradition. Is this what tends to happen or is it simply that women tend to mention when their husband “wins” but don’t think of mentioning when things are done their way? Maybe because they are doing most of the prep anyway so, of course, they do it how they want? What do you think?
P.S. I’ve gotten on the ball, found the polling tool and added the survey here to broaden the sample. This may change the winning team. Only vote if I didn’t get you in the Facebook poll, please.
Interesting random thoughts. I would guess that most women would end up doing it their way since they ARE doing most of the work as you said. I will be awaiting the final verdict at your house over this issue.