My mother always made us wait, too. Many of my friends' families got
to open one (or more) on Christmas eve, and I was always envious.
My husband and I (and now our son) celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, so
usualy Hanukkah is first, so my urge is filled. Not this year, though.
I usually get my husband some sort of kitchen apparatus for making
breakfast, and that gets opened on Hanukkah. This year I bought him
that stovetop cappuccino/latte maker that brews the coffee into the
milk. I think I will make him open it on the Eve.
NM