Editing Christmas Eve (section)

== Gift giving ==
[[File:Gifts xmas.jpg|thumb|left|Christmas presents under the Christmas tree]]
In Christianity, the giving of gifts during Christmastide is traced to the [[Biblical Magi|Magi]] who brought gifts for the [[Christ child]] in the [[manger]]. During the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or ''[[Christkindl]]'', and the date of giving gifts changed from 6 December to Christmas Eve.<ref>Forbes, Bruce David, ''Christmas: a candid history'', University of California Press, 2007, {{ISBN|0-520-25104-0}}, pp. 68–79.</ref> It is the night when [[Santa Claus]] makes his rounds delivering gifts to good children. 

In Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, where [[Saint Nicholas]] (sv. Mikuláš/szent Mikulás) gives gifts on 6 December, the Christmas gift-giver is the [[Christkind|Child Jesus]] ([[Ježíšek]] in [[Czech language|Czech]], Jézuska in Hungarian, Ježiško in [[Slovak language|Slovak]] and Isusek in [[Croatian language|Croatian]]).<ref>''The Christmas encyclopedia McFarland'' p.143. & Co., 2005</ref>

In Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, presents are traditionally exchanged on the evening of 24 December. Children are commonly told that presents were brought either by the [[Christkind]] (German for Christ child),<ref>''The Christmas Almanack'' p.56. Random House Reference, 2004</ref> or by the [[Weihnachtsmann]]. Both leave the gifts, but are in most families not seen doing so. In Germany, the gifts are also brought on 6 December by "the [[Saint Nicholas|Nikolaus]]" with his helper [[Knecht Ruprecht]].

[[File:Gezin bij de kerstboom c1860.jpg|thumb|Christmas tree with presents hanging on the tree]]

In Estonia ''[[Jõuluvana]]'', Finland ''[[Joulupukki]]'', Denmark ''[[Julemanden]]'', Norway ''[[Julenissen]]'' and Sweden ''[[Jultomten]]'', personally meets children and gives presents in the evening of Christmas Eve.<ref>''Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2010 to Mabon 2011'' p.64. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2010</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5JF_kT43LjcC&dq=Jultomten&pg=PA202 Festivals of Western Europe] p.202. Forgotten Books, 1973</ref>

In Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Quebec (French Canada), Romania, Uruguay, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland, Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th—following German tradition, this is also the practice among the [[British Royal Family]] since it was introduced by [[Queen Victoria]] and [[Albert, Prince Consort]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/queen-victorias-christmas-a-chandelier-christmas-tree-and-family-gifts-go-on-display-for-the-first|title=Queen Victoria's Christmas - A 'chandelier Christmas tree' and family gifts go on display for the first time|publisher=Royal Collection Trust|date=30 November 2012|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226055159/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/queen-victorias-christmas-a-chandelier-christmas-tree-and-family-gifts-go-on-display-for-the-first|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/how-royal-family-christmas-8212591|title=How the Royal Family do Christmas|first=Brian|last=Hoey|publisher=Wales Online|date=12 December 2014|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>—while in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Malta, English Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, this occurs mostly on the morning of Christmas Day.

Some countries do their gift-giving in a different date, connected to the tradition either [[Epiphany (feast)|Epiphany]] (in Spain, the morning of 6 January)<ref>Francis, Charles ''Wisdom Well Said'' p.224 Levine Mesa Press, 2009</ref> or [[Sinterklaas]] (Belgium and the Netherlands, on the evening of 5 December).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=H_AQzpSLRNoC&dq=netherlands+-+sinterklaas+december+5&pg=PA363 Concepts of person in religion and thought] Walter de Gruyter, 1990</ref>