#22 – Distribution of presents

From early afternoon onwards, children are excited about the coming distribution of Christmas presents in the evening of December 24. Usually the presents are spread underneath the Christmas tree. Traditionally the presents were distributed at midnight in the night of December 24 to 25, after the Christmas Mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, as children were not supposed to stay up until midnight, the presents are nowadays distributed in the early evening.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, it is still common for Santa Claus or Father Christmas, to bring the presents at midnight - supposedly through the chimney. In the morning of December 25, the children will find those presents and may open them. Also in German-speaking countries, some families have adopted this tradition from England and/or the US.