Christmas 2018: Why do some people open their presents on Christmas Eve?
CHRISTMAS is nearly here and for most, the best part of the holiday is giving presents to loved ones. But why do some people open their presents on Christmas Eve?
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Christmas Eve is a day as important as Christmas Day for many, with traditions all of its own. Whether it’s attending mass, eating a specific food or receiving new pyjamas Christmas Eve traditions vary from family to family. Some even give all their presents on Christmas Eve or just open one as a taster.
Why do some people open their presents on Christmas Eve?
Some people open one present on Christmas Eve, and that for many is some new pyjamas.
For many families, this has become tradition, with cute and kitsch patterns and bright seasonal colours on their nightwear.
This is so when they wake on Christmas Day they are ready to open presents in their Christmas pyjamas.
For others, they open one present on Christmas Eve, as a taster for the next day.
This can even be in the form of a Christmas Eve box, a collection of sweets, pyjamas, and small toys for children.
This can be also a tactic to calm little ones who are over-excited on Christmas Eve.
A common tradition for some countries is to open all of their presents on Christmas Eve, after attending mass.
In some parts of Germany, the presents are brought by a childlike figure called the Christkind or Christ Child.
Countries which mostly open presents on Christmas Eve are:
Argentina,
Austria,
Brazil,
Bulgaria,
Colombia,
Denmark
Estonia,
The Faroe Islands,
Finland,
France,
Germany,
Hungary,
Slovakia,
Iceland,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Luxembourg,
Norway,
Poland,
Portugal,
Quebec,
Romania,
Uruguay,
Slovenia,
Sweden,
Switzerland,
Czech Republic
This is also the practice among the British Royal Family since it was introduced by Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family still follow this tradition today.