Which countries hold their main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve?

In our sourced country records the main celebration falls on December 24 in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Norway. Each country guide sets out what our sources describe for that evening.

What happens on Christmas Eve in Poland?

The Wigilia evening begins when the first star appears, symbolising the star of Bethlehem. Hay is placed under a white tablecloth as a symbol of humility and of the birth of Jesus in the stable, and an extra place is set as a sign of openness to an unexpected guest. The supper is preceded by a shared prayer and by breaking the opłatek wafer while exchanging wishes. Carol singing and gift-giving are inseparable parts of the evening, and carollers visit homes with wishes in exchange for small gifts, including the Kashubian gwiôzdki custom and the gwiazdory of the Bory Tucholskie.

What happens on Christmas Eve in Sweden and Finland?

December 24, Christmas Eve, as the main celebration. At midday on Christmas Eve the Declaration of Christmas Peace is broadcast on television and radio from Turku, a tradition Visit Finland says dates back about 700 years. Christmas Eve typically includes drinking glögi, having Christmas dinner and bathing in a Christmas sauna, and midnight Christmas mass is a tradition for many. Decorating gingerbread and hanging it from spruce branches is one of the most cherished tasks of the season, and self-made lanterns light up the winter darkness.

Do families open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

It depends on the country. In our records gifts are exchanged on the evening of December 24 in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway, while the United Kingdom and United States records describe presents opened on the morning of December 25. Italy records La Befana filling stockings on the night between January 5 and 6, and Mexico records the Three Kings bringing presents on January 6.

What are simple Christmas Eve ideas for families with young children?

New pyjamas as the one gift opened early, a Christmas story read aloud, a short walk to look at lights, following along on our where is Santa right now page, and an early bedtime. These are ideas rather than documented traditions, so pick the ones that suit your household.

Christmas traditions

Christmas Eve Traditions

A cozy Christmas Eve scene with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk on a wooden side table next to a Christmas stocking hanging by a glowing fireplace

Quick answer

This page separates two things that usually get mixed together: documented Christmas Eve customs from the countries we hold sourced records for, and simple ideas you can borrow for your own evening. The customs come from our country guides. The ideas are just ideas.

Where Christmas Eve is the main event

In 6 of the countries we cover, the main celebration is recorded on December 24 rather than December 25. This is what each record says about the date and the gift customs.

Germany: December 25 (with main celebration on December 24). Gifts are exchanged on the evening of December 24. Small children are told the Christkind brings the presents. In some regions Sankt Nikolaus also fills shoes left out on the night of December 5.
Austria: December 25 (main celebration on December 24). Presents appear under the tree on Christmas Eve, said to be brought by the Christkind. A bell signals that children may enter the room.
Sweden: December 24, Christmas Eve, as the main celebration. Sweden.se notes that early Christmas presents were given anonymously and playfully, sometimes as a wrapped log tossed through a front door, and that in the 1900s people began giving real presents handed out by Father Christmas, modelled on Saint Nicholas.
Poland: December 25, with the main celebration at the Wigilia supper on December 24. Presents are given as part of the Wigilia evening. Who brings them depends on the region: Święty Mikołaj, the Aniołek or Gwiazdor.
Finland: December 24, Christmas Eve, as the main celebration. Santa brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve, and his visit is the most anticipated Finnish Christmas tradition among the youngest members of the family.
Norway: December 24 evening as the main celebration. Presents are opened on Christmas Eve as part of the family gathering, and a bowl of rice porridge is left in the barn for Fjøsnissen.

Christmas Eve customs country by country

These are the December 24 customs described in our sourced country records. Each entry links to the full guide, where the sources are listed.

Germany. Families light a candle on the Advent wreath each Sunday before Christmas. Children open windows on an Adventskalender from December 1. Cities host outdoor Weihnachtsmärkte selling crafts, ornaments and Glühwein. Many families decorate the tree on Christmas Eve afternoon and exchange gifts that evening, followed by a church service. See Christmas in Germany.
Austria. Advent begins with the first lit candle on the wreath. On December 5 children meet Krampus parades in many regions. Christmas Eve is the heart of the holiday: families gather, the tree is lit, and Silent Night is often sung in memory of its 1818 Austrian origin. See Christmas in Austria.
Sweden. Advent starts about four weeks before Christmas, when the first candle is lit in the Advent candlestick, a custom going back to the 1890s. Lucia on December 13 brings candlelit processions in schools, churches, workplaces and town squares, with participants in white full-length gowns, star boys carrying stars on sticks and a Lucia wearing a crown of candles. On Christmas Eve at three o'clock, many Swedes watch the Disney compilation known in Sweden as Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul. See Christmas in Sweden.
Poland. The Wigilia evening begins when the first star appears, symbolising the star of Bethlehem. Hay is placed under a white tablecloth as a symbol of humility and of the birth of Jesus in the stable, and an extra place is set as a sign of openness to an unexpected guest. The supper is preceded by a shared prayer and by breaking the opłatek wafer while exchanging wishes. Carol singing and gift-giving are inseparable parts of the evening, and carollers visit homes with wishes in exchange for small gifts, including the Kashubian gwiôzdki custom and the gwiazdory of the Bory Tucholskie. See Christmas in Poland.
Finland. At midday on Christmas Eve the Declaration of Christmas Peace is broadcast on television and radio from Turku, a tradition Visit Finland says dates back about 700 years. Christmas Eve typically includes drinking glögi, having Christmas dinner and bathing in a Christmas sauna, and midnight Christmas mass is a tradition for many. Decorating gingerbread and hanging it from spruce branches is one of the most cherished tasks of the season, and self-made lanterns light up the winter darkness. See Christmas in Finland.
Norway. Preparations usually start on the last weekend in November, when streets are decorated, lights go up, Christmas cookies are baked in at least seven different kinds and gift shopping gets serious. Alongside Santa Claus, Norway has Fjøsnissen, a small Santa-like creature who lives in the barn, and it is a Norwegian tradition to bring him a bowl of Nissegrøt, rice porridge, out to the barn on Christmas Eve. See Christmas in Norway.

Ideas for your own Christmas Eve

Everything in this section is a suggestion rather than a documented tradition. Choose two or three and let the rest go.

A special early dinner
Something more special than a weeknight meal but lighter than Christmas Day, so nobody is exhausted before the main event.
Idea
Opening one gift
Each person opens a single present on December 24, often new pyjamas, so the rest can wait until morning.
Idea
Cookies and milk for Santa
A plate of biscuits, a glass of milk and a carrot for the reindeer, left out before bed. Children love the ritual.
Idea
A Christmas film together
One film, the whole family, the lights low and the tree on. Agree on the film before dinner to avoid the negotiation.
Idea
A walk after dinner
A short walk to look at the lights nearby. Good for clearing heads, settling overexcited children and making space for dessert.
Idea
Follow Santa together
Check in on a Santa tracker as the evening goes on. It gives younger children something to do while dinner finishes.
Idea

Our where is Santa right now page explains how to follow along on the night.

Christmas Eve with young children

New Christmas pyjamas as the one present opened early
A Christmas story read aloud before bed
A small Christmas Eve box: a film, a snack, a craft, a book
Leaving a carrot for the reindeer next to the cookies and milk
An early bath, dimmed lights and a calm bedtime story
A short countdown moment on our Christmas Eve countdown before bed

Christmas Eve for adults and couples

Without small children, December 24 can be the calmest evening of the season: a long dinner you actually had time to cook, a film, a walk, an early night. For ideas that make the evening feel intentional, see our cozy Christmas ideas guide, and for what other countries put on the table, read Christmas food around the world.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries hold their main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve?: In our sourced country records the main celebration falls on December 24 in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Norway. Each country guide sets out what our sources describe for that evening.
What happens on Christmas Eve in Poland?: The Wigilia evening begins when the first star appears, symbolising the star of Bethlehem. Hay is placed under a white tablecloth as a symbol of humility and of the birth of Jesus in the stable, and an extra place is set as a sign of openness to an unexpected guest. The supper is preceded by a shared prayer and by breaking the opłatek wafer while exchanging wishes. Carol singing and gift-giving are inseparable parts of the evening, and carollers visit homes with wishes in exchange for small gifts, including the Kashubian gwiôzdki custom and the gwiazdory of the Bory Tucholskie.
What happens on Christmas Eve in Sweden and Finland?: December 24, Christmas Eve, as the main celebration. At midday on Christmas Eve the Declaration of Christmas Peace is broadcast on television and radio from Turku, a tradition Visit Finland says dates back about 700 years. Christmas Eve typically includes drinking glögi, having Christmas dinner and bathing in a Christmas sauna, and midnight Christmas mass is a tradition for many. Decorating gingerbread and hanging it from spruce branches is one of the most cherished tasks of the season, and self-made lanterns light up the winter darkness.
Do families open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?: It depends on the country. In our records gifts are exchanged on the evening of December 24 in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway, while the United Kingdom and United States records describe presents opened on the morning of December 25. Italy records La Befana filling stockings on the night between January 5 and 6, and Mexico records the Three Kings bringing presents on January 6.
What are simple Christmas Eve ideas for families with young children?: New pyjamas as the one gift opened early, a Christmas story read aloud, a short walk to look at lights, following along on our where is Santa right now page, and an early bedtime. These are ideas rather than documented traditions, so pick the ones that suit your household.