Christmas gifts
During the Reformation in 16th -17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve. It is the night when Santa Claus (or some variant thereof) makes his rounds delivering gifts to good children.
In some places where St. Nicholas gives his sweet gifts on December 6, the Christmas gift-giver is the Child Jesus.
In other countries, instead, Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th and people stay awake until midnight, when they open the presents.
In some other countries, people receive presents both around Christmas and on the morning of Epiphany day.
(wikipedia)
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